evinrude 1984 e115tlcrd remove lower unit

[jimpittman]

I am trying to remove the lower unit from the above Evinrude ob motor to replace the water pump. I have removed the shoulder bolt from the shift rod (it is free), the trim plate and the two 5/8" bolts under and just ahead of it, and 4 ea 5/8" bolts from the gearcase flange. That makes a total of 6 bolts from the gear case to the exhaust housing. I thought that was all that needed to be removed. The unit will not drop out. I Have about 1/8" drop on the gear case and can move it side to side,but can't get it to drop. Have I missed something. Has anyone in this forum experienced this before. Any Ideas.
​Thanks
jimpittman

 

[tlewis1]

I would think it is just a bit of corrosion maybe on the drive shaft or the exhaust components holding up there. I have had to take two flat bladed screwdrivers and slowly pry down on some gearcases to get them to drop. Just go slowly and you can usually feel it moving....

 

[interalian]

I'd thread the one large bolt back in a few turns, then give it some pry action, evenly from both sides. I agree it's probably binding in the crank. The bolt will keep it from dropping on your foot when it lets go.

 

[jimpittman]

You are both right on target. Screwed one bolt on each side, but not all the way up. Used a wooden wedge on the trim tab end and a couple of heavy duty industrial flange scrapers and began to pry up and down near the middle and after a few minutes the unit popped right out. The problem was probably the spline on the shaft which had tar like old grease and who knows what else on the splines.
​Thanks for your input. Well done.
jimpittman

 

[interalian]

Glad you got it!

When you put it back together, clean all the old crud grease off the spline and re-grease the splines. Make sure you don't put any grease on the end of the shaft or you'll risk hydrolocking the shaft in the crank on re-assembly. Use a new O-ring on the top as well.