Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

[Grant123]

Hi, I have a 1968 V4 65 Hp Evinrude. It works great but started to make a rumbling noise and sounds to me like the lower crankcase bearing is gone. I have a manual and it tells me how to remove the crankcase but I only want slide the lower bearing plate off the shaft and check the bearing. I have the powerhead removed from the motor and all the bolts removed from the bearing plate. However I have tired everything and the bearing plate/housing will not come off yet it spins freely in the shaft!!! Why won't the lower bearing plate come off? Do I need to remove the crankcase cover? Sounds like a lot of work?? I have spent hour on this!! Also the plate seem to be made of Aluminium so I am conerned that I will damage it.

Please help. Many thanks Grant

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

That plate is a snug fit, not extremely tight though as there is space designed for the two sealing O Rings. It should pry off.

When you say that you removed all the bolts, if you didn't also remove the four (4) bearing plate retaining screws that exist further towards the center of that plate, therein lies your problem.

 

[F_R]

Re: Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

So you have the 7 or so screws that hold the bearing head, plus the four that hold the retainer plate removed? Then it should slide off with a bit of persuasion. The ball bearing is a mild press fit into the head. The ball bearing has to stay with the crankshaft because it is snap-ringed on. It is also held into the head by the reatiner plate (4 screws). Once the four screws are out, it is just a matter of pulling it off that mild press fit.

 

[Grant123]

Re: Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

Thanks for your answers, yes I have removed the 7 bolts for the bearing head/housing/end plate plus the 4 smaller bolts for bearing retainer plate. Also, there is no snap ring holding the bearing housing/plate into the shaft. So, I can rotate the bearing plate but it will not come off the shaft. Should I apply some heat? I have put a lot of force on the plate by sliding two thin paint scrapers between the power head and the bearing head, at opposite sides, and pulled back hard but the bearing head will not come off. Why?

Grant

 

[mikesea]

Re: Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

It's the bearing that has the snap ring not the cap,your problem is the sealing oring and the crankshaft seal,the scraper may have had too much flex to give you the power you need,its indeed a tight fitand must be pulled out evenly,the only way heat will help,and it might is softening the seal and oring in conjunction with the prying shoul do the job,your next hurdle will be pulling the bearing off the rank while crank is in the engine,I have made tools that slide into the bearing between the balls,but my method needed to distroy the bearing cage which is plastic to do so,thus no turning back,sometimes the time it takes to remove the stuff in the way and seeking a shortcut ends being time consuming and disasterous,there isnt much you need to take off,you wont have to mess with the rods ,pistons bearings etc,while your at it you can then chang the top bearingtoo,they are a bit more costly

 

[F_R]

Re: Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

Heat may also help by expanding the aluminum and thus letting it slide off the steel bearing easier.

 

[Grant123]

Re: Can't remove lower crankcase bearing plate

Great advice - I will it a go with a little heat and some more, evenly applied, force. Regarding the top bearing - it doesn't seem to be available any more (BRP Cat). Do you know where I can get one? Thanks for all your help.