Question about lower unit leakage

[emoney]

Ok, I got the base off finally and as I was hoping there’s about 5/32-1/4” of the bolt sticking above the housing now. Thought I would try vice grips first and they don’t work try to careful cut a slot in it so I could try to use a flat screwdriver. Any thoughts before I do something incorrectly?

 

[Texasmark]

The flat screwdriver will just break off. BTDT

Impact is your friend. I like the visegrips and a hammer on the handle. Not heavy handed, just lots of penetrating oil and if you think any rubber parts in the viscinity, that you aren't replacing, can take the heat, a torch to heat and tap, heat and tap.......

 

[emoney]

Look out Marine Mechanics, Emoney is on fire! After being ignored by 2 different machine shops (nobody called me back at either) I decided to tackle this myself. I tried the tapping it with the punch to no avail and then decided “heck with it”, got the drill out and started drilled. After a half an hour of the 7/64” bit making zero progress outside a dent, I moved up two sizes and immediately started seeing ss shavings. Slow and steady with light to moderate pressure it kept cutting until it broke through. Then I was able to screw in the Irwin Extractor until it bottomed out. Hit the reverse and it immediately grabbed and started backing out. I was still worried I had not gotten it centered and would damage the threads but thanks be to God, a new bolt threaded right in there!

Whew! I was thinking though, the last OB I had that I fought the lower unit on (Force 120 w/Merc lower) ended up being the best running motor I’ve owned. So I’m banking on this being a repeat performance, lol. The new water pump base will be here Thursday so hopefully I’ll have it back together by this weekend and on the water before the 4th. Woot!

 

[emoney]

New cables came in and I wanna make sure the ends of what I currently have, will in fact, unscrew from the old onto the new? When I ordered them that’s what the clerk told me. I don’t want to install the cables until I get the LU back together and installed. I know it’s in forward now since the propshaft ratchets/clicks clockwise but won’t turn cow. I also know the controls are in forward. I’d hate to screw something up and find out after the fact and have to drop the LU again, lol. The cables on the boat are just a little stiff and seem to be factory so it’s time for sure.

 

[Texasmark]

New cables came in and I wanna make sure the ends of what I currently have, will in fact, unscrew from the old onto the new? When I ordered them that’s what the clerk told me. I don’t want to install the cables until I get the LU back together and installed. I know it’s in forward now since the propshaft ratchets/clicks clockwise but won’t turn cow. I also know the controls are in forward. I’d hate to screw something up and find out after the fact and have to drop the LU again, lol. The cables on the boat are just a little stiff and seem to be factory so it’s time for sure.

Sounds good. Lube up the drive shaft and shift shaft....sides of the splines only, nothing on top....could limit engagement depth. Ensure the water tube plugs in where it belongs.

 

[emoney]

Shift shaft coupler; leave on the LU or put it on the shift shaft in the leg?

 

[FishN-T]

What would cause an efi engine to Rev full force when started? I just replaced throttle cable and it's fine. But also did a complete spray of engine with a degreaser then with wd 40, bound to be something sticking. Have been told probably an injector, but surly not a mechanic and only understand carburetor models to a degree. Been told to check injectors but have no idea how.

Any possible things to check, we missing a lot of fishing

1999 Mercury 225 efi
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[emoney]

If it wasn’t Fuel Injected I would say check the choke but that’s not the case. I have zero experience in that arena I’m afraid. Start a thread and somebody will weigh in that does know I bet.

 

[emoney]

Ok, she’s all put back together. Not fun by yourself but obviously doable. Slight turn on the flywheel and up she went. Then the balancing act to get a bolt started lol. Oh and I figured out quick; the coupler needs to be on the leg and not the lower unit. Ask me how I know this....

 

[emoney]

Great news, no leaks and she shifts forward and reverse! I had ordered the wrong size control cables so since parts are not the easiest to find I ended up pushing oil through the old ones and freed them up. Maybe this winter I’ll change them. Now for the next question;

I changed out the inline fuel filter. Not sure but this didn’t look so good. I picked up one of those glass ones from West Marine and after trimming a little fuel line got it to fit. I like being able to see inside. However, now that I’ve done then, she’s idling rough to the point of shaking? Fired right up and seemed to not have any issues accelerating that I could tell on the hard. Could it be a leak around the filter or could I have knocked out the sync when I changed out the cables? I did have to reinstall them since I got them backwards the first time, lol.

Im tired cuz it’s 90 and full sun down here so I thought I would ask you guys for troubleshooting advice. Other than “clean the carbs”, lol. I’ve already ordered the rebuild kits for all 3 but this literally started after the new fuel filter and she’s still on the portable tank that I know is clean. Ideas?

 

[emoney]

Anybody got any ideas before I break something else?

 

[emoney]

I may have found my problem last night. It was getting late so I didn't want to start the motor to confirm, but I will when I get home today. Had gas leaking at the top of the clear inline filter. It was a generic one with the screw in male adapters and one wasn't screwed in correctly. I actually picked up a Quicksilver replacement filter and replaced it anyway since that's what Mercury used. Autozone carries them, btw, if you're looking.

 

[emoney]

To complete this thread; took it out on Monday and it just didn’t seem right. Once it warmed up, started bogging on my end by the time I got back to the ramp it didn’t wanna idle. Cleaned the carbs at home, reset the Air/Fuel Mixture screws back to factory 1 1/2 turns, tightened up all my fuel lines and that seemed to solve the engine. Oh, and I put back the NGK plugs that I had replaced with Champion. The screws were all way out of whack. Not sure which part solved it, but we ran out to a local lake this afternoon just in case and she ran great. Spent about 2 hours starting and stopping etc. Wanted to make sure it was good and warm and shut it off a couple times to check. She did great. 32 mph on the GPS with the 2 of us. Not sure how accurate my tach is but never got over 5k rPMs so there’s probably more there but I’m making progress.

Oh, and bonus; my old Minn Kota Powerguide worked perfectly. I didn’t think it would when I bought the boat but kudos to me that it did. Turned right/left full power/slow. Yay!
Did not catch any fish tho, lol. 105 degree heat index and full sun so maybe not ideal environment. Wife snapped the pic.