driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

[Timeking]

I've serviced water pumps many times, but this time when pulling the impeller off the shaft, the whole shaft came out of the lower unit. That doesn't seem right. Has something that should have kept this from happening, like a pin or something, broke or fell out? Do I need to take this somewhere and get it properly serviced? I can do a water pump, but I am not set up to overhaul the lower unit.

Johnson 2001 150HP S/N G04924264 Date_of_Manufacture 09/2000 Model J150VXSIF

 

[daselbee]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

There is a keeper in there that is supposed to hold the DS in. It is Ok to just slide it back in, as long as it goes all the way in, and doesn't hang up on the keeper on the way back in.
Also you have to consider that maybe the keeper has broken, and a piece of metal is down in the LU.

But anyway, I can fix it for you economically. Moreso than a pro shop, anyway.
Re-seal, pressure test...the whole nine yards.

PM me if interested.

 

[F_R]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

Interesting. The parts book shows that as a two-piece drive shaft with a roll pin and some sort of retainer where they join. I am unfamiliar with it, but somebody here probably knows.

 

[daselbee]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

Yes. I have deliberately removed the upper DS by slide hammer method. It breaks that little keeper, but has not caused me a problem....yet.
It is a tough job to fix it....gotta tear down the gearcase almost all the way.

 

[boobie]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

The little keeper that Dasel is talking about is held in by a roll pin in the lower drive shaft. It's either broken or never been installed. If the d/s will go back in and the water pump key lines up with the impeller you may be okay. Other wise it's tear down time.

 

[daselbee]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

As usual, Boobie is absolutely correct. Sometimes you can use it successfully without the keeper, other times that broken keeper ends up between the teeth of a gear.

It is a technique that racers use to allow very quick lower unit changes from a 20" to a 25" engine simply by deliberately breaking that keeper, and slipping the desired length DS in place, also changing the shift rod.

 

[Timeking]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

I went to the outboard shop and talked to the head mechanic, and he said to just stick the drive shaft back in, tap it on the end, and I was fine to go. He said the water pump holds the drive shaft on during operation, and that the clip is only there so that you could carry the removed lower unit around by the driveshaft (as a handle). He said the keeper couldn't get out of where it is because of how the driveshaft/lower unit is constructed.

 

[daselbee]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

Yes he is generally right. Plenty of LUs in use with the keeper broken.
However, the keeper is spring steel, and if it has broken a small piece off, that piece can fall into the LU.
The OMC DS puller tool actually forces the Upper DS past the keeper and effectively breaks it. But they want you to replace the keeper after pulling the DS with this tool.

But as I said, it it Ok to run it by reinserting, and not fixing the keeper.

Did he quote you a price on replacing the keeper, and resealing the GC? Inquiring minds want to know.:joyous:

Also, I don't think the keeper is there so you can use the DS as a handle.

 

[boobie]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

The keeper was put in the lower D/S when OMC came out with the two piece shaft. The G/C will work just fine without it. It was a manufacting thing. They didn't want somebody picking up the G/C by the D/S, have the shaft pull out and dropping the G/C on the floor or their toes. When you have to pull the upper D/S out with the puller to save the upper D/S, the old G/C is normally toast so you don't care if you break the keeper or not.

 

[Timeking]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

They wanted $300 to replace the water pump, so I'd guess another $400 to tear it down in labor plus at least another $100 in parts (reseal kit is $90). That is why they call it a B.O.A.T. (break out another thousand)...

 

[retiredfornow]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

Bet ya daselbee can beat that price easily, and he's good, knows what he's doing, and a great guy. He's helped me out a couple of times. Take a treat for the dogs if you go.LOL

 

[boobie]

Re: driveshaft fell out of lower unit during water pump service

Have you tried putting the D/S back in and installing a new water pump ??