What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

[mattsmall1972]

Hi,
I am trying my hardest to remove a pair of mercruiser alpha outdrives. I have followed all directions - placed in forward gear, removed 6 nuts, removed tilt/trim rams. The come loose but are not free. Tonight I shackled the top of the outdrive (where the hole is) to a chain, and wrapped the other end of the chain around the bottom of the outdrive and shackled it together, then backed it up near a tree, shackled another chain around the tree, and used a come-along to ratchet the drive out. It came out about an inch but that's it. I used all of the force possible to get that thing off but no luck. What now?

Just in case, for reference, if I am looking at the gear selector thing on the inside of the engine bay, above the motors, which way is forward? I removed the shifters before realizing I needed to put it into forward. I have tried it both all the way in and all of the way out but neither direction made any difference.

Thank you,
Matt

 

[Don S]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

When it pulls out an inch, if you let the pressure off, does it suck back in that inch?

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Yes it does.

 

[Don S]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Well, the ujoint shaft splines are rusted (FROZEN) inside the coupler. Water and lack of lubrication causes it.
Years ago I bought an old Glasply like that. Finally cut the shaft off right behind the coupler. Pulled the drive, replace the shaft, and coupler.

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Thanks very much for the info. It is possible to pull the engine without removing the outdrive? At this point, does it matter? The engine is trashed, I don't really care about it.

Thank you.

 

[Don S]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

The coupler is bolted to the crankshaft. You can't take it loose till you get the flywheel cover off. You can't get it off because you can't get the drive off because the drive is stuck in the coupler.
Notice anything here?

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

One more thing - do I cut the shaft from inside the boat? That actually makes sense to me...

 

[Don S]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

One more thing - do I cut the shaft from inside the boat? That actually makes sense to me...

That is the ONLY place you can get to it.

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Ugh... ok... I think a blow torch may be the best thing here. Thanks again.

 

[wire2]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Is there room for a sawzall with a long blade? I'm thinking probably not....

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

most the time,yes you can get a sawzall in there.
I try not to burn but I have burned more than one into.
if you burn post a trusted friend,not on your life insurance,as a fire watch.instruct the fire watch,in the event of fire or screaming put the technician out first.

 

[wire2]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

most the time,yes you can get a sawzall in there.
I try not to burn but I have burned more than one into.
if you burn post a trusted friend,not on your life insurance,as a fire watch.instruct the fire watch,in the event of fire or screaming put the technician out first.

LOL.
I can picture it now, you're in the engine compartment with only your feet sticking out, you yell "Fire" and the watch sprays CO? on your shoes.

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

It's a *really* tight fit for a sawzall. I take it I would need to have a really long blade, right? Don, how did you do it?

I'm seriously thinking about cutting the transom around the gimbel just to get these things out. I am planning on powering with outboards anyway. Any serious cons with doing it that way?

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

<bump>

If the front engine mount bolt on the 470 is removed, can I cut the transom around the gimbel and remove the engine, gimbel and drive in one fell swoop? That would be awesome.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Cut the hole in the transom large enough, you can probably pull the whole mess through it! (It sounds like you're going to replace the transom.........)


By the way, you can buy fairly long metal cutting blades for a reciprocating saw.

 

[forgedin78]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Go to home depot or hardware store of your choice, and buy a 12" Milwaukee brand recip saw blade for metal. Its called a "torch" on the package. Cuts metal like you wouldnt believe. There REALLY is a difference between the good blades and the cheap ones.

 

[mattsmall1972]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Will do and let you know... thanks.

 

[mattsmall1972]

Not exactly the easy way to do it...

Not exactly the easy way to do it...

I got one of the outdrives off and one of the motors off, the hard way. I guess I'll get around to the other one in a couple of weeks. The transom is shot so it really doesn't matter anyway.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Not exactly the easy way to do it...

Re: Not exactly the easy way to do it...

Whats the point of all that work? Parts are junk and boat is junk. And unless your super duper skilled with fiberglass... there isn't much left to fix after you cut that hole.
Besides, what your going to have to spend on wood and fiberglass, materials alone, you should be able to find at least a hull.

 

[forgedin78]

Re: What to do about a truly stuck outdrive?

Wow I guess that's one way to get it out.