johnson 9.5 lower unit q's

[joho5]

ok, this was actually my first experience working on an outboard myself. i have a 1971 johnson 9.5. i bought a new impeller and lower unit seal kit due to water being in the lower unit oil.

i replaced the o ring on the propeller, the spaghetti seal around the bottom, the nylon washers on the oil plug and vent, the oil retainer in the water pump, the gasket in the water pump, and used a silicon based oring and gasket sealer. i didnt change the oil retainer on the prop shaft because i couldnt figure out how to get it off. it is very snug on the shaft...is this a problem that i didnt change that?

here are my questions i came up with.

1. you do have to bend the arms on the impeller to make it fit right?
2. i was left with 1 oring from my seal kit that i didnt know where it went...its a little smaller than about a dime and the middle hole is small. its shaped about like a doughnut you would eat. does anyone know where this goes?
3. how does water not go down the housing of either the main crankshaft or the housing of the shifter linkage and get into the lower unit? i was curious about that after seeing the inside of a lower unit.
4. how does a water pump work...like as a vaccum? i couldnt figure that out either.

thanks

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: johnson 9.5 lower unit q's

The propshaft seal housing should be very free on the propshaft, that is it should turn easily. Not being able to slide it off the propshaft is usually due to a small ridge of some kind being built up on the propshaft. If so, that ridge must be carefully filed away without damaging the propshaft to allow that housing to slide off so that the seal can be replaced.

That seal is usually the main source of leakage BUT if the unit doesn't leak at that point, let it go until another time.

Question Answers:
1 - No, as soon as the engine turns over, the impeller blades will flex to their proper position.
2 - That would be the O Ring for the shift rod.
3 & 4 - The design of the water pump draws water upwards from the intake area(s) and forces it out and upwards into the copper tube leading to the powerhead.

 

[joho5]

Re: johnson 9.5 lower unit q's

is it the oring that goes under the bushing? the one for the shift rod? and if so does that bushing just pop out?

thanks for your help, it is much appreciated.

Matt

I have my repair manual on the way, then I wont have to ask so many questions.