SCARED SILLY! Trying to remove lower unit on 1972 65hp Hydroelectric shift Johnson

[rsamsel]

I am replacing the lower unit on my motor

65hp Johnson Hydroelectric shift
It drops about 4 inches and then seems to get hung on the drive shaft. theres no shift linkage to remove...and its not hanging on the wires. I am afraid I got in over my head already!

:-(

Please help.
Rob

 

[rsamsel]

Ok...looking closer it seems it might be the wires holding it. what is the trick to get the wires out. it seems there are somehow attached under the power head where they go toward the lower.

 

[F_R]

Did you disconnect them? If not, well there ya go... Not 100% sure, but I think the disconnects are near the exhaust cover plate on the side of the powerhead. After you disconnect them, tie a long string or something to them to fish them back up when you reinstall the unit. There are a series of annular ridges up near the top end of the cable. Put some oil on them before reinstalling, and pull the cable up high enough that the ridges are in the hole. That seals it.

 

[rsamsel]

I did disconnect them. The rubber seal where it goes into the lower unit was frozen stuck. I ended up breaking the wires so some splicing is in my future.

 

[rsamsel]

I did disconnect them. The rubber seal where it goes into the lower unit was frozen stuck. I ended up breaking the wires so some splicing is in my future.