http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...nes-outdrives/331143-omc-impeller-replacement
Not sure if the above link works or not. And I don't know why it's in the mercruiser forum. But anyways. I did it like this. But southkogs is right. It was a pain. But I've also removed my drive before and that was no picnic either.
It should raise up into the same position. You are sliding the splines together so you may need to rotate one shaft slightly to get it in place.
I have done this job this way and Southkogs is right its not the best way. But it does work. A couple of points.
1. The bearing and bevel gear carrier in the upper can simply fall out or slip down out of engagement with the gears once the four bolts are out and the swivel housing and pump assembly is removed. This would hinder reassembly. make sure everything goes back as it was, including shims, etc.
2. before you put it back together make sure the oring seals on the shaft is installed and a new key and grease the eff out of the splines. It will preserve your shafts.
3. don't forget the plastic spacer between the swivel housing and the lower unit. I almost lost mine. This shim is designed to help maintain a correct gap in the swiveling trunnion created by the upper cover and the swivel housing. this gap is essential for proper steering function.
4. The big oring goes around the pump housing above the swivel housing. I've left this out before and the pump does work, but not as good.
Another thing about the OMC water pump. It's a variable pump and works differently at higher rpms. The impeller is huge and is probably not the weak link in the pump. I'm sure they go bad with neglect, but I've learned there are many other weak links in this cooling system besides the impeller. cover them all. get your motor to run cool and you'll be in dreamland and out of your nightmare. (funny handle)
