Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

[mamm7215]

Maybe frozen is a better term. Anyways, I have m lower unit seal kit for my '90hp Johnson as while I was doing my impeller, I thought I'd do the driveshaft seals as well, getting milky gearcase oil. I replaced the shift rod seal but when I took the 4 bolts off of the driveshaft seal housing (right below the water pump), the top cover won't come off. It's stuck. Tried some PBblaster, slight tapping with a hammer...no budge. I don't want to reef on it in case it cracks or something. I've got it back together and my oil is definitely "less" milky than it was but I'd still like to do these seals as well. No oil leaking out of the prop housing so I think that' good. Replaced gearcase drain plug seals as well.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

If you'd pressure tested the LU, you would know whether the driveshaft seal was OK or not, as well as the prop shaft seals.

 

[mamm7215]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

I would need a large tub and rig up some kind of pump? Would an air compressor turned down to 15psi work? Also, what kind of hose/attachment...I have a hand pump for hooking onto oil bottles to fill the gear oil with...I could mod that I suppose...

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

You need to make or buy an adapter to a drain or fill screw. Could use a bicycle pump or compressor to produce pressure. Do not exceed 15 psig. A good LU will hold some pressure for at least 45 minutes. You must drain gear oil beforehand, or oil will mask results. I've use an inflatable kiddie pool, among other things, to find leak bubbles. Almost anything that holds water will do, or a lake, stream, etc. I once made an adapter with a Shrader valve, which could accept a std air chuck and also had a port for a pressure gauge. It was a small tee affair, which I used for years.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

The fitting on your oil pump should suffice - most of them do. Any pump that will hold pressure and has a pressure gauge can work.

If you want to get more involved, find a MityVac 8500; they test vacuum and pressure: http://www.toolsource.com/silverline-elite-hand-pump-p-104354.html

 

[jtexas]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

As I recall, I had to do a little prying, but only just a little.......

For the pressure test, I use an emergency roadside tire inflator with built-in gauge, the fitting from that gear oil pump, and a piece of hose that adapts 'em together.

Looks kinda like this -- http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-17683/Detail

 

[mamm7215]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

Well it looks like I won't have to. I based my opinion on the gear oil being milky when I bought it so I changed it. Then I changed it again (less milky) when I put the new power head on (one with boat blew rings), this last time however, I did the waterpump and housing and shift rod seals. I just checked the gear oil again and it's as blue as new after several outings, no water so I'm not going to touch nuttin', just go boatin'.
Thanks again for the replies.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Driveshaft seal housing stuck...

You pulled the bearing housing bolts -- be sure you torque 'em to spec...it keeps a precise pressure on the pinion gear meshed with the drive gears, with little to no tolerance....