Force 125 Lower Unit

[lennymoe]

OK so I?m about to start a total rebuild of my 84 Bayliner Capri with a Force 125. The tilt and trim never worked and I think I might have damaged the lower unit when I was blown into a bank of loose rocks with the prop turning. Ever since that happened it makes a lot of noise going into reverse. Luckily I found someone getting rid of a Bayliner Capri with a cracked block for cheap cheap! The problem is that the ?new? lower unit has a broken skeg. Its broken really close to the body so I assume I will have to get a replacement welded on. Here? s my question: Do I have to remove the gears and seals to get it welded? If so should I just swap the guts from one body to the other?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give

 

[john from md]

Re: Force 125 Lower Unit

A good Mig guy can weld it in place. The oil and components will be enough of a heat sink to not cause any problems. You may want to crack the drain plug (assuming he has it vertical for welding) so that any pressure can escape. Don't forget to tighten it before turning it over.

You may want to try using it without the skeg and just adjusting the snout. It may work out fine.

Regards,

John

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Force 125 Lower Unit

I suspect a good welder is going to ask you to drain the oil as it is a fire hazard. So since you are draining the oil, you might as well remove the spool and two O rings. This will prevent heat damage to them.

However: You can run the lower unit without a skeg. It won't hurt anything but there will be less prop protection. You also have the option of putting the new gear pak in yout old lower.


The third and best option is to find out why it now makes noise going into reverse, then take action.

 

[lennymoe]

Re: Force 125 Lower Unit

Thanks guys. The "new" boat actually came with two lower units (both with broken skegs) so I'll just run one without a skeg and use the other to rebuild my damaged one.
thanks again
Lenny