How do you remove lower unit?

[72GT160]

Hi there! New to the forum.
I recently aquired a 72 GT160, with a pre-79 Mercury 115hp. Hasn't been in the water for over 2 years but, was told it was serviced before storage. So, I put the muffs on and ran the motor. Water was coming out the prop but not at the top of the shaft. Not sure if this is OK or not. Was going to take it out this mornin but, last night decided to check the lower unit oil and about 20oz. of water came out. It was fresh. I tilted the motor as far as it would go and them the black stuff came out but not very much. So, I know that it had not been in gear running or I would have gotten the milkshake effect. I'm tring to take the lower unit off to find out what's goin on. I can't get the thing to buge. What's the prcedure for doing this? Any ideas of what's goin on?

Thanks and sorry for the long wind.
Ken

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

have you undone all the bolts? there is a hidden one inside the zinc i also have the same problem on one of my motors smashed the **** outta it and still wont come off since the lu housing was already stuffed bought out the hammer metal flying everywhere and still wont budge i hope you have better luck than me btw mine is stuck at the side oppisite prop if yours is the same you might have a bit of a hard time getting it off

 

[Chris1956]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

Ken, Get all the visible nuts off I think there are 5. Now remove the zinc using a 3/8 drive 7/16 socket. It should just fit into the hole at the back bottom of the midsection (above the prop). Under the zinc you will find a bolt. That motor has a SS driveshaft, so it should come off. They can be a tight fit and corrosion on the bolts may bind it up. I never had to tap mine, but a leather or wood mallet should hurt, if you are careful.

You have 2 seals (oring and propshaft) in the waterpump base. You need to replace these. Replace the waterpump base (price is the same as for the seal or the whole base), oring, gaskets and impeller. Put new gaskets on the plug and vent screws. I have fixed my water leaks this way. I never had the propshaft seal or the shift seal go bad on my '77 1500. "Knock wood"

 

[72GT160]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

Thanks for the reply. I tried to get the LU off but am having trouble. The two bolts at the near the steering shaft, the one at very back and the zinc are off. I don't see any more. I have been pounding it with a rubber malet and it's barely budging. Any ideas?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

GT, There is a single nut at the very front of the motor, under the stering swivel, facing up. There are two more facing up, behind that front one on top of the A-V plate, also facing up. There are two more facing down, on the underside of the A-V plate, plus the one under the zinc.

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

this is what happened to mine trying to get it off if i hit the shaft it still wont come off btw the lu already had a crack in it so i continued to crack it more lol to this day its still on there i want the leg as a spare is still good i might drill it out

 

[anthony115merc]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

oops wrong pic this is what i meant

 

[72GT160]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

Thanks, I guess I feel a little dumb that I didn't inspect it carefully enough, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have found the one under the zinc. It dropped right out.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: How do you remove lower unit?

Glad to hear you got the lower unit off. I'd love to see pics of your boat. Shoot me an email.