Sidhewynder
Cadet
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2010
- Messages
- 17
Hi all. I have a 7.5HP Gamefisher #217-585-831, and I'm having trouble replacing the lower unit.
I took the lower unit down and replaced the impeller. Everything reassembled fine until I went to reinstall the lower unit. I flipped the motor upside down, greased the splines, lined up the water tube and started to slide the lower unit down. It went in so far then stopped. So thinking the splines didn't line up, I put the lower unit in gear and moved the prop thinking they'd line up and it would drop in farther. Wouldn't go. I checked all the alignments again. Still wouldn't go. Thinking the water tube might be hung up on something I took the water tube out and tried putting the lower unit in. Still wouldn't go. Wondering if maybe I really messed something up with the water pump housing, I removed the entire housing and tried again. Still wouldn't seat. I looked again down inside the column to see if I missed something didn't see any obvious obstructions.
Even with everything off I can only get the lower unit down to where there's about a 1/4" space between the lower unit top and the bottom of the column. The front bolt slides in and the alignment pin lines up to where it should start seating, but it just won't go any farther. I've made sure the drive shaft is turning so the splines rotate to line up and seat, but it just feels like its not going in the female part of the connection. I gently tapped on the lower unit with a rubber hammer, nothing. I even ran the nut on the front bolt and gently tightened it while turning the prop thinking is was a really tight seal seat. All that did was pull the front of the lower unit down a bit while widening the gap at the back of the lower unit. I was worried about bending the shaft or stripping the splines, so I backed it off.
Thinking the splines might be all gooped up, I took a rifle cleaning rod and brush and ran it down into the female connection. Went right in. When I pulled the brush out, there was a small o ring on the brush wires. Tried resetting the lower unit.. still no go.
It just feels like the shaft is either not hitting the female connection and hanging up or its not aligning the splines.
Questions..
1) Is it even possible that the shaft isn't hitting the female connection? The front bolt and alignment pin are lined up.
2) Where does that little O Ring belong? I don't see it on any of the Sears diagrams. It obviously goes on the shaft somewhere, but is it an oil seal of some kind the fits inside the female connector?
3) Is the next step to take the power head off, replace the lower unit then reinstall the power head? I really, really don't want to take the power head off, nor can I imagine the designers make you take the power head off to replace an impeller..
I've done lots of impeller replacements on big Mercs, Johnsons, Evenrudes, etc. You aline the bolts and spin the prop. The splines line up, you gently persuade the shaft to slide into the seal and Voila!! Back on the water.. but this little Gamefisher is just kicking my butt...
HELP!!
I took the lower unit down and replaced the impeller. Everything reassembled fine until I went to reinstall the lower unit. I flipped the motor upside down, greased the splines, lined up the water tube and started to slide the lower unit down. It went in so far then stopped. So thinking the splines didn't line up, I put the lower unit in gear and moved the prop thinking they'd line up and it would drop in farther. Wouldn't go. I checked all the alignments again. Still wouldn't go. Thinking the water tube might be hung up on something I took the water tube out and tried putting the lower unit in. Still wouldn't go. Wondering if maybe I really messed something up with the water pump housing, I removed the entire housing and tried again. Still wouldn't seat. I looked again down inside the column to see if I missed something didn't see any obvious obstructions.
Even with everything off I can only get the lower unit down to where there's about a 1/4" space between the lower unit top and the bottom of the column. The front bolt slides in and the alignment pin lines up to where it should start seating, but it just won't go any farther. I've made sure the drive shaft is turning so the splines rotate to line up and seat, but it just feels like its not going in the female part of the connection. I gently tapped on the lower unit with a rubber hammer, nothing. I even ran the nut on the front bolt and gently tightened it while turning the prop thinking is was a really tight seal seat. All that did was pull the front of the lower unit down a bit while widening the gap at the back of the lower unit. I was worried about bending the shaft or stripping the splines, so I backed it off.
Thinking the splines might be all gooped up, I took a rifle cleaning rod and brush and ran it down into the female connection. Went right in. When I pulled the brush out, there was a small o ring on the brush wires. Tried resetting the lower unit.. still no go.
It just feels like the shaft is either not hitting the female connection and hanging up or its not aligning the splines.
Questions..
1) Is it even possible that the shaft isn't hitting the female connection? The front bolt and alignment pin are lined up.
2) Where does that little O Ring belong? I don't see it on any of the Sears diagrams. It obviously goes on the shaft somewhere, but is it an oil seal of some kind the fits inside the female connector?
3) Is the next step to take the power head off, replace the lower unit then reinstall the power head? I really, really don't want to take the power head off, nor can I imagine the designers make you take the power head off to replace an impeller..
I've done lots of impeller replacements on big Mercs, Johnsons, Evenrudes, etc. You aline the bolts and spin the prop. The splines line up, you gently persuade the shaft to slide into the seal and Voila!! Back on the water.. but this little Gamefisher is just kicking my butt...
HELP!!