Prop shaft on 70hp Johnson getting harder to turn by hand

[flounderpounder]

A question for the knowledgable people here.<br /> Engine is a 1989 70hp Johnson and it seems to me that the prop shaft is getting harder to turn by hand than it should be.It has fresh foot oil (22 ounces per owners manual) and the engine has always run fine.I just noticed that it seems to be stiffening up when I went to remove the prop to get it serviced.The shaft is not bent at all and is somewhat stiff to turn by hand with or without the prop on it.I was wondering if anyone out there has experienced this situation...The engine runs fine but I really don't know why it is doing this all of a sudden.None of my other outboard engines do this,they all spin pretty freely.Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks In Advance.

 

[corm]

Re: Prop shaft on 70hp Johnson getting harder to turn by hand

Hi Pounder,<br />I'd take it out of gear.<br />Sorry had to say it. Did or does the oil look metalic in the sun light? A bearing might have slid instead of rolled. Some times fish line around the propshaft will do that too. It gets in the seals and creats more drag.<br />...have fun...corm

 

[flounderpounder]

Re: Prop shaft on 70hp Johnson getting harder to turn by hand

It's out of gear..har har....oil looks fine and there is no fishing line on or around prop shaft.

 

[clanton]

Re: Prop shaft on 70hp Johnson getting harder to turn by hand

Does the shaft have end play? If I realy wanted to look inside, I would pull the prop shaft bearing housing. You can do this without removing the gearcase or gears.

 

[flounderpounder]

Re: Prop shaft on 70hp Johnson getting harder to turn by hand

Clanton,it does not have any end play.I went by dealer today to get a few goodies and walked around the showroom spinning the old and new engine props and shafts by hand.A lot of the brand new engines felt just like mine.The old and new engines all varied a great deal....some were really easy to turn and some were much harder.I asked the service dept. head about it and he said that it was a common condition.I found no metallic particles at all on my magnet (on end of plug) when I drained and installed new foot oil.It appears to be O.K. according to the people I talked to.Believe me,these guys would love to tear into it ($$$$)and they say it seems to be fine.No end play and the shaft itself is very straight.I'll just have to find something else to worry about...hopefully the foot is fine.This boat is garage kept so the foot oil is not as hot as my other boats that are stored outside that spin freely.I need to get it out and run it a little up to operating temperature for a little peace of mind.Thanks for your reply.