How hard is it to rebuild an electric shift gearcase?

[sdilecce]

Has anybody out there ever rebuilt an Evinrude / Johnson electric shift gearcase? I have a 1966 Evinrude Lark 40hp. The gearcase leaks water, so I have to change the oil everytime I take it out. My reverse slips, it's works not too bad when I first put it in the water, but by the end of the day it slips a lot. My forward works ok but every once in a wile the rpms go up and the boat slows down. My guess is that as the water contaminated the oil, the clutches slip more and more.

To those that have done it, how big an ordeal is it, and do I need any special tools? I have a factory Evinrude manual from 1966 but I find it kind of vauge. The engine otherwise runs well and I would hate to have to get rid of it.

 

[jonesg]

Re: How hard is it to rebuild an electric shift gearcase?

I think the big problem is finding parts, solenoids especially, seals should be easy to find.

My attitude is If it was built it can be rebuilt.

Pressure test it, maybe the leak doesn't requite a tear down, could be the prop seal.

harbour freight sells a cheap pressure vac tester, $60 or so.
Put the leg in a pail of water and look for bubbles , keep pressure low, 12psi I think they recommend. Ask (PM) Tashasdaddy, he posted a link to a cheap pressure tester a while back.