Driveshaft doesn't pull up easily on 1961 75hp Johnson Electric Seahorse

[Clippership821]

When I got to the step to pull the driveshaft it's not coming out very easily. It seems the bearing is in very tight and a little rusty? Am i just being a wuss?
I thought about using some penetrating oil. But, it's pretty close to the gearbox. Also there is a lot of play about 1/2 inch or less before the shaft hits the bottom of the bearing. Is that normal? Thanks.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Driveshaft doesn't pull up easily on 1961 75hp Johnson Electric Seahorse

I really don't comprehend the question about the driveshaft/bearing play as the driveshaft should be a easy insert/remove process that would slide by/thru whatever it is that you're speaking of.

That drive shaft, assuming of course that you're already removed the four bolt to driveshaft bearing/seal housing assembly, should simply pull up and out quite easily.

However, be aware that if the driveshaft is tight as you say, the entire lower unit must be dismantled in order to inspect all of the internal components. The only thing that I can think of that would jam the driveshaft at that point are the two pinion bearings, and if they are rusted, I would strongly think that rust would exist with other components within the gearcase.

Perhaps you'll be lucky and the problem is with a bearing only. At any rate, you're faced with a tear down of the unit.

 

[Clippership821]

Re: Driveshaft doesn't pull up easily on 1961 75hp Johnson Electric Seahorse

thanks for the response. The Seloc manual didn't mention anything about removing the four bolts after the water pump base plate is removed. Would there be play if in neutral? Seloc says to just carefully pull up on the shaft after you've removed the base plate and it should come out. However, there are four screws that I didn't remove. the bearing sits down in that plate above the gear box. You're saying I should remove those?

 

[F_R]

Re: Driveshaft doesn't pull up easily on 1961 75hp Johnson Electric Seahorse

There is a collar on the drive shaft that can't come up through the seal. Yes, you have to take the seal housing off, then the shaft will pull out with no resistance.

 

[Clippership821]

Re: Driveshaft doesn't pull up easily on 1961 75hp Johnson Electric Seahorse

Thanks I'll give it a go. I had a earlier posting about scoring and some small burrs about 2/3 of the way up the shaft. They were keeping me from removing the top of the pump housing and the impeller. I sanded the burrs down with some 80 grit and I got the parts off but not without some slight scoring on the inside of the bushing on the impeller and the inside of the top pump housing where the shaft goes through, was scored pretty good. (I kind got rough with that and did it before I discovered the burrs.) Any idea what would cause the scoring and burrs?. And did I trash the top of the pump if it is scored? Thanks again for your input. I really appreciate it.