noob question: LU repair?

[billsnogo]

If I bought a manual, and get help from you good members, could a noob to boats replace the clutch dog and gears in a lower unit?

I work on my cars (71 nova, 74 dart, and daily drivers) and have a decent amount of tools, so I am not completely ill equipped, but have never touched a two stroke in my life, let alone an outboard.

So, how difficult is it, and what all should be replaced if not seen ahead of time, like bearings, both forward and reverse gears, ect. Also, are these older parts hard to find (1987) new? I have a place (twin cities outboard) that I am guessing I can get the parts for used if I have to.

thanks you in advance

Edit: Is there one manual better than the other? there seems to be at least three I have found so far.

 

[jonesg]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

theres only one manual, the factory manual, seloc and clymer are not genuine.

www.outboardbooks.com

 

[billsnogo]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

Not a good idea, huh? Eh..... will bring it to a mechanic then. I want to go boating!

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

If you have the tools and a decent inclination, and no money for a shop to charge hundreds on top of the parts, I'd do it myself. I'd find a used manual on ebay (factory one, NOT Clymer, Seloc, or anything on a CD), and go from there.

 

[Daviet]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

With a factory manual, and the help of the good people on this site, you will probably be able to maintain your motor and learn while doing it.

 

[billsnogo]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

I just bought a true manual (thanks for the suggestion) and will talk it over with the wife to see what we should do. I wanted the manual either way, but need to find out what parts are all needed before I make the final decision.

thanks again :redface:

 

[billsnogo]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

Well, just ordered a new gear set with clutch, water pump kit, and lower unit seat kit. If for some reason I chicken out, I will pay a local boat mechanic to install the new parts instead of used.

Worth a shot..... :redface:

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

Agreed! Worst case you learn some. At least how to take the lower unit off and do the water pump. That parts not too bad really, and will save you money if you end up taking it to a shop. All you will have to do then is take them the lower unit instead of the whole motor/boat.

 

[billsnogo]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

Well, good news and bad news.

The boat goes in reverse after the gear swap, but not forward. Launched it in the river and found out the bad news.

So, I am guessing the shift rod is not adjusted properly? Or should I take the lower unit off again, and manually put it in forward and see what happens when I spin the driveshaft?

 

[ezeke]

Re: noob question: LU repair?

The shift rod has to be set fairly precisely to specs. Set it in neutral, measuring to the center of the hole at the offset, from the mating surface of the gearcase. The length will be stated on the last page of the gearcase section of your factory manual.

You can disconnect the shift cable and try to manually shift at the linkage to see if it will work.