needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

[TbirdDavehere]

My lower unit made a horrible squeling noise an now she no go. I've pulled the lower unit remove the water pump impeller the prop and backing plate an even the shift fork. I still can't pull the shafts. I'd really like some encouragment on the repair and possibley an exploded veiw of the lower unit. Please help stranded in the water.

 

[trevorcday]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

What vintage motor do you have? Older Forces have a sort of Chrysler l/u newer ones have a merc l/u.

 

[trevorcday]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

My apologies i see in the title it is a 1988. You need to remove the prop shaft with bearing carrier first. Often this is difficult due to corrosion etc. If I'm not mistaken that l/u has holes tapped for jacking screws to help free the bearing carrier. this will give you access to remove the pinion gear nut and the driveshaft. If the lower unit is seized it is unlikely you will be able to repair it yourself. The gears need to be set up for proper running clearances etc. once any of the internal components are changed. Look for a good used one.

 

[johnkc]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

dave, i am curios,did you just change the gear lube recently?....look at the bearing just under the water pump. the driveshaft does need a puller also

 

[rl29]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

John why are you curios about if he changed the lower unit recently. I guess why I asked is I have a 88 125 and when I stored it this last month for the winter I drained it and put new grease in. Shouldn't I be doing this and am I looking at a problem this spring?

 

[johnkc]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

rl29, i have seen a lot of force l.u.'s in this age group that the bearing had seized. thru diagnosis i found that owner had just changed the lube , and they swore that gear lube came out of the vent hole.and i do believe them .which leads me to believe that there was just a birp of gear lube that came out and they put the plug in and were done. but the unit still needed 3-4more pumps of lube.because when i took these units apart every thing but the upper bearing was in good cond and the oil that was in the unit looked fresh.so when i wen't to refill these l.u.'s itried to duplicate the birp and about 1/2 of the time ,after the first birp of gear oil ,if i let it sit for1-2 min i could get easily3-4 more pumps of lube into it .in the shop i normally waste a bit of oil by giving afew extra pumps of lube.and i think that the customer is trying to be coservative,and doesn't want to make a big mess.and that is what leads to the problem here . don't know for sure but it seems logical yes, definitly drain and refill in the fall.put new sealwashers on the plugs{cheap ins.}and give the old gearlube pump a few strokes for me

 

[rl29]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

John I see what your saying and I''ll double check it when I get it out in March. But I got one other question. Where do you get them plastic plug washers for the screws at. I was wondering about changing them but wasn't sure where to pick them up at. Thanks!

 

[johnkc]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

rl29, can't get them any more ...use mercs seal washer 12-19183, it is what is used on all merc product with a plug of that size

 

[TbirdDavehere]

Re: needing help with 1988 force 125 lower unit

Thanks to all of you for your help and advise. I have not change the lower gear lube in the unit and realy should have. The oil that came out was dark in color with real fine metal shaving's that I couldn't tell what type of material it is. There was no murkyness to the oil a tell tale sighn of water in the unit. I'm guessing that you were reffering to the upper bearing unit on the drive shaft the one directly under the water pump cover on the drive shaft. that bearing appears to be allright. Both shafts turn freely with little grab between the two some slight presure (gripping) to either shaft will keep the one from turning tho the other will. Once again thats for your thoughts and comments