Seaking 5hp 1953 model

[ben3472]

I took the lower unit off to replace the water pump impellor and have had a heck of a time getting it back on. Everytime I try to reassemble it I can get it to within 1/8" of mating and no closer. I worked 2 1/2 hours on it takeing it apart and putting it back together,but get no closer. I am afraid to tighten it and break a housing,any idea what could be stopping it from getting any closer? The four screws don't seem to be fouling,try turning the prop,shifting in gear and out and looked it the bottom of the unit to see if anything could have fell in even turned it upside down and shook,nothing.Any ideas? Thanks, Ben

 

[F_R]

Re: Seaking 5hp 1953 model

EDIT: Withdrawing my reply. Just realized you probably have the neutral clutch model. I'll have to ponder on that one a bit and get back with you.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Seaking 5hp 1953 model

Speaking generically::
If there is an excesive amount of grease on the dirveshaft where it goes to gether you may have trouble sliding it together as the grease won't compress to allow the shaft to slide.If it has a clutch you may want to loosen the cable at the lever, then when installed with the lever in neutral pull the cable snug and thighten the clamp.Just a thought as I have never assembled one of these.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Seaking 5hp 1953 model

Did you remove the foot with the prop and gear case from the leg, or the entire lower unit and driveshaft from the powerhead? If you pulled the foot off and the driveshaft came out of the foot, the pinion gear that the shaft seats into may have shifted out of place. This assumes your 53 has the vaned impeller in the lower unit above the prop/gear case and not the wobbler impeller. Only way to get the shaft back into the pinion is to pull the prop and take the face plate off the gear case...pull the prop shaft out, finagle the pinion back in place and reseat the driveshaft...messy job. Other possibility is the water tube isn't seating completely or may be missing the grommet completely.

 

[ben3472]

Re: Seaking 5hp 1953 model

Thanks guys, on my third complete tear down back to ground zero I found the woodruff type key with a pin on it had turn 90 degrees and had not gone into the impellor.The thickness of the key being the 1/8" that was causing the problem holding the main shaft out the extra 1/8. Thanks for all the help, Ben

 

[F_R]

Re: Seaking 5hp 1953 model

Ok, I pondered it and the only thing I can come up with is perhaps the shock absorber is broken in the gearcase. It consists of a very heavy spring inside one of the hubs that make up the neutral clutch assembly. Not speaking of the neutral clutch spring that you can see, but the very heavy one inside. When they break, the shock absorber assembly becomes too long to fit in the alloted space, thus presses on the bearing plate below the water pump. Did you notice any damage to that plate, such as heat damage to the bottom of the bearing?

Where is the 1/8" gap that you have when trying to reassemble? Is it between the gearcase and the plate above it, or between the plate and upper housing? The plate should go down against the gearcase with ease.

The pinion gear idea was a good guess, but that isn't it. It does not fall out on that model like some others. Water tube, a possibility, as is the neutral cable tube, as is the too much grease theory. But I lean toward the shock absorber.

EDIT: Guess we were both typing at the same time. Glad you got it going.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Seaking 5hp 1953 model

The impeller key/pin was my next guess...glad it was only that...those little 53's can be contrary cusses when it comes to the LU.