Impeller replacement on 2005 50 HP

[thomas15]

2005 Mercury 50 HP 2 cycle

I'm wanting to replace the water pump impeller and have a very basic question to ask. I believe that I need to disconnect the shift linkage. There is a jam nut and a longer adjuster nut and the shift linkage up to the power head has threads. In theory I loosen the jam nut, put the motor into forward and then unscrew the longer adjuster nut until it is separated from the lower shift linkage shaft.

My question is should the longer adjuster nut turn on the threads (of the upper shift linkage shaft) or should the whole linkage to the power head turn? When I look at the pictures in the mercury manual it appears that if the adjuster nut doesn't turn on the threads then it will damage the linkage where it connects up by the power head. The long adjuster nut doesn't want to turn on the threads of the upper linkage without using what I think is too much force. Should I place a vice grip on the linkage and/or soak the threads in penetrating oil then turn the long nut?

Thanks in advance...

 

[yzf125]

Follow this video and it will show you just what to do ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv6oBxA9Gtw

 

[thomas15]

I have been aware of that particular video and tried to remove the linkage last fall. It really doesn't want to come out without using what I think is excessive force. I have soaked it in penetrating oil and tried everything to coax this nut off.

I spoke to a marine mechanic and he suggested putting some heat on it which I did. This helped but didn't get it to come off completely. Well I kept working at it and finally bang off it came but I broke the horizontal shaft shaft in the lower motor pan. I ordered some new parts and will probably not have them for another 2 weeks because one of the parts in on backorder. I was told that to get at the horizontal shaft the power head has to be removed but I think I can get to it by removing the carbs.

I also discovered that the water pump kit I bought a year ago is the wrong one. Sometimes I think this motor hates me. I used to think that I was fairly handy around engines but this motor has proved to me that I know basically nothing. Anyway thanks for taking the time to respond.