Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp johnson

[TundraRocks]

I have a 70esl74m that has a water intake screen that has turned to mulch. I have the intake replacement part and have taken the LU off and the water pump off. In an attempt to remove the intake screen it is hitting the bearing housing that sits below the water pump plate. I need to remove the housing but don't know what I'm getting into. I have a manual, but its removal states that it is one of the last components to removing the entire drive shaft. That I don't want to do. If I remove the housing are there any seals that are going to need replaced? I have already removed the screws, and attempted to slide the housing up the shaft, but has not budged. Below are a couple of photos...

Thanks for your help.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

The drive shaft will be held in the gearcase by the pinion nut on the bottom of the drive shaft. The bearing housing has 2 seals in it, maybe if you polish the driveshaft above the bearing housing and gently lift the housing high enough to replace the screen, see below.
http://www.ishopmarine.com/ishop/js...CatFilter=BRP&eCatSupFldr=supplier-100-005-EJ

 

[TundraRocks]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

The drive shaft will be held in the gearcase by the pinion nut on the bottom of the drive shaft. The bearing housing has 2 seals in it, maybe if you polish the driveshaft above the bearing housing and gently lift the housing high enough to replace the screen, see below.
http://www.ishopmarine.com/ishop/js...CatFilter=BRP&eCatSupFldr=supplier-100-005-EJ

Thanks Daviet for the quick response. I don't want to pull the drive shaft out, but you are saying it will probably need to come out? There are instructions in the manual, but I was hoping that the housing would slide up the shaft without taking the rest of the LU apart, just to replace the intake screen. the drive shaft is pretty clean and smooth and I don't want to force it up unless that is what is supposed to be done.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

The drive shaft will not come out without removing the nut on the bottom of the shsft. Slide the bearing housing up enough to replace the screen.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

I have done this on the round top housing that you have...later ones were square and you didn't have to remove them to replace the screen. You need to clean the drive shaft good before you lift the top off so you don't foul the new seals, there are 2 back to back seals you need to replace and a O ring you will also need some 3M gasket sealant or similar product to seal the O ring when you put it all back together (same stuff you use on the water pump O ring)...put some grease between the back to back seals.
I had to use a long screwdriver to breakup the bits of screen that were left in the housing.

Not a big job....

 

[TundraRocks]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

Thanks mcrabs. The problem have is I cannot get the house to slide up the shaft at all. I can only grab a hold of the housing on the back side where you can see the intake screen. Should this slide up the shaft easily? In order to get the new seals back on will the housing need to slide all the way off the shaft?

 

[Daviet]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

Take 2 flat blade screw drivers 1 on each side and gently pry the housing up. If you are replacing the seals, the housing will have to come off. As I suggested before, use some fine emory cloth and clean the area on the drive shaft above the housing, slide the housing up just far enough to replace the screen and then slide the housing back down.

 

[TundraRocks]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

Take 2 flat blade screw drivers 1 on each side and gently pry the housing up. If you are replacing the seals, the housing will have to come off. As I suggested before, use some fine emory cloth and clean the area on the drive shaft above the housing, slide the housing up just far enough to replace the screen and then slide the housing back down.

Thanks Daviet - I'll give this a try tomorrow afternoon. I'll post back the results. I was hoping not to have to replace any more gaskets and O Rings.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

I personally would never slide a old seal up and down the drive shaft and not expect a leak sooner than later, however you can get away without replacing the O ring, just use the 3M sealant when you re install.
You will thank yourself over and over if you replace those seals and there cheap.

 

[TundraRocks]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

Update...I would like to thank Daviet and mrcrabs for your generous help with this project. I was able to pry up the top of the bearing housing with a couple of screw drivers. Once it popped off its orginal seal it slid up the shaft easily. I replaced the plastic intake cartridge (After cleaning out the broken pieces), resealed, and put the lower unit back together. A big thanks to iboats for hosting such a wonderful forum.

Good as new

Tundra

 

[Daviet]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

Glad you got your problem solved.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: Removal of drive shaft bearing housing to replace water intake screen 74 70hp joh

I just love the tidy whity look of a new intake screen,

have fun