How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

[Coastal Rick]

Got a 73 20hp merc and been running it for a couple months. So I decided I should check on the LU lube and when I opened up the screw about a cup or so of water came out and then a nice, creamy oil slowly dripped out about the consistency of a good vanilla milk shake. I'll fill it back up and run it a bit to see if I had a leak - it probably hasn't been serviced in lots of years. I didn't even see any kind of washer on the two screws so maybe that is the issue. Otherwise I'll be in for some seal replacements.

Question: if I get around to replacing the prop shaft seal, how in the world do you get the carrier assembly out?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

Those fiber washers, on the fill and vent screws are usually stuck on the lower end. if they are there you have pick/scrape them off before installing new ones.
Have you changed the impeller?

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

Chances are you just need to replace the fill screw washers like MIDuck mentioned. If not there is a large retaining ring under the prop. It generally needs a special tool to remove unless you just drill it out and replace it. The bearing carrier is inderneath that and you probably need a slide hammer to get it out the first time if its been awhile since it was removed. This might not be your exact LU but I think it is or close. It should show you what you need to know. http://www.boats.net/parts/search/M...76/GEAR HOUSING ASSEMBLY, COMPLETE/parts.html

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

1973 merc. You need to remove the lower unit. inspect the drive/at impeller and shift shaft.
see if they worn/rusted around the seals, grooves, etc.
quite common with that age motor.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

I'll tell you how to remove that carrier...Im in the process of rebuilding a 1965 Lower Unit...Before i began, i posted Threads and surfed the Web for educational info...i got a slide hammer, got the correct puller jaws for it, hooked the jaws to the carrier as "TOLD"...well all it did was break the leading flange off the carrier...yes, i even heated the case but the carrier flange still broke off the rest of the carrier...I beat the crab out of that slide hammer trying to break it free...all you will end up with is a ruined carrier...NOW listen, get a slide hammer, go online and look for a slide hammer "adaptor"...the adaptor will screw on the end of the hammer, but it won't thread onto the prop shaft...find out what thread size the prop shaft is...take that adaptor to a machinist and have them cut the correct threads in one end of the adaptor so it will then fit the hammer and the prop threads, join the prop shaft and the hammer together with the adaptor....That carrier will come out within about 5 whacks on that hammer...I beat my brains out tryin to get my carrier out as "TOLD"...trust me, you'll smile big when you see how easy this method works!

 

[Coastal Rick]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

Wow, thanks for the feedback, this is encouraging. It seemed like a very special tool would be needed - I saw one online and it was like 80 bucks, and there is nothing else it can be used for as far as I can tell.

I have the impeller kit in hand and will do at the same time.

I'll check to see if the fiber washers are just mushed against the LU housing.

Wasn't even thinking of looking at the shift shaft, but will do that when I drop the LU. I learn so much on these forums!

Monk-monk: are you saying the typical routine is to pull the carrier out with a slide hammer, but you found it easier to just pull the prop shaft with the carrier still on it? Just making sure I understand.

Any other suggestions on pulling this thing are greatly appreciated!

This OB is old but it runs pretty good, and from what I can tell probably hasn't been maintenanced much - did I just make up that word maintenanced? Anyway, I guess it is a testatment to the 2 stroke design. I just pulled the old prop (spun hub) and I'm sure it was original. It was so corroded on the shaft I destroyed the prop with a puller, had to use a cutoff tool to slice the hub off, but got the new prop on there with a new prop kit thanks to help on another iboats forum post.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

monk-monk also curious on your tip as well about pulling the prop shaft with bearing carrier on.

 

[bob1340]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

Not sure what the 20 hp looms like, but I think it's similar to the smaller motors. In the seloc manual it says to put the prop shaft in a vise with jaw protectors and using a block of wood and a hammer, beat the lower off the carrier. I didn't like that idea. I used a cheap body dent type slide hammer to remove mine. I just welded a short piece of 1/8" welding rod to the prop shaft nut and put the slide hammer on that.

 

[Coastal Rick]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

If not there is a large retaining ring under the prop. It generally needs a special tool to remove unless you just drill it out and replace it.

Before I can get to the carrier, what about that cover nut/retaining ring? I looked at a round tool with handles on it - is there anything a guy can substitute for this specialty tool? And with the drilling method, you just remove enough of the ring to collapse it and wrangle it out of the housing?

I hope I don't need to go this far. I"m keeping my fingers crossed that with a couple of new fiber washers, and the impeller/water pump kit I'll be in good shape. I'm headed on vacation in a few days so I won't be back for about a week and a half - the boat will miss me I'm sure!

 

[bob1340]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

Before I can get to the carrier, what about that cover nut/retaining ring? I looked at a round tool with handles on it - is there anything a guy can substitute for this specialty tool? And with the drilling method, you just remove enough of the ring to collapse it and wrangle it out of the housing?

If it is like the smaller motors, and I think it is, you can remove it with a flat punch or a screwdriver. It is left hand threads so it turns reverse of what you'd normally think.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

If you drill it, yes you do just enough to collapse it. I made my own tool out of black pipe threaded and welded and used the carrier nut as a pattern to weld tabs on a threaded floor flange that was then welded to the pipe. A nut welded at the top fits an impact socket and Viola...a cheap specialty tool. The shaft and carrier will come out as one. Just be careful as there are shims inside the housing and they need to go back in exactly where they came from. Your REV gear will be attached to the housing and the shaft will slide out once The carrier is removed. You can then get at the rear shaft seals for replacement.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: How do you get that bearing carrier removed?

Yes, use the prop shaft to pull the whole assembly. To remove the "cover nut" that holds the carrier in, either get the right tool or drill it (or cut it using a dremel tool)...BUT do not attempt to use a hammer and a blunt tool to hit the cover nut "tangs"...you have to have equal force about the circumference of the nut or you will distort it causing more binding and possibly cracking the case. Use the right tool or cut it out...