No, I haven't put the prop on yet, or installed the drive. I don't want to do that until I can confirm that the ball gear on the upper gearbox is supposed to turn only clockwise by hand, if I try to turn it anti clock, it is too stiff, and I don't want to force it. I want to be sure there is no problem with the upper gear box, although quite possibly this is the way it's supposed to work.
I know this is a good idea, but it might have to wait. I'm working hard to get this boat in the water before winter sets in so I can identify any other problems, that will give me all winter to deal with them.
OK now it all makes some sense. I had thought Bondo was referring to the propeller. I think that will explain why it won't turn anti clock, and now, just to be sure, I will do the work on the water pump suggested by Scott.
I've got the original OMC factory manual, courtesy of Ebay. anyone got any idea why the ball gear shaft will not come out?
to take the ball gear shaft out, you must first remove the water pump, you must also remove the top assembly. additionally, you must remove the ball gear from the shaft (pull cover off over nut, remove nut, remove ball gear)
Yes, that's what I did in the end. The book advises removing the ball gear shaft so that you can access the pump unit from the bottom to tap it out, but really, it wasn't necessary just to remove the impeller and housing.
