Re: What year is A748368 3 cyl Merc
Hey Gallagher,
I finished the install this weekend. I fought and fought trying to take the lower unit off, but eventually something had to give. I think that it sat so long that the gears were kind of bound together. Anyway, here's what I did to get it off. Keep in mind, I've never worked on any outboard before so this might be wrong, but it worked for me.
There were 5 bolts/nuts total that had to be disconnected. Three of them were at the back (prop side) One of them, take out the little circular plastic thing off to access the bolt. Unscrew that bolt. That takes the little ceramic looking rudder thing off. Then you will see a bolt where the rudder came off, thats the second one. I think that one was a nut. Looking underneath still, about 4 inches back there is another nut to take off. And finally looking topside, eyelevel with where the lower unit separates there are two nuts, one on each side.
After taking all of the bolts/nuts out *****NOTE***** leave the last two nuts I spoke of screwed on about 3 threads or so, just so the lower unit doesn't fall. In my case it didn't. I had to work it the whole way off.
I put the throttle in the forward position. (It helps align things up when you put the L/U back together.
I jiggled it about 1/4 inch loose before I couldn't jiggle anymore. I cut a piece of hardwood in the shape of a wedge. I kept banging it all around trying to separate the L/U. I'll be honest. At first I was scared so I was tapping it. After the second day's frustration set in, I started to bang. It held on until the last millimeter.
IT FINALLY CAME OFF. (Also had to separate the little water hose so I could pull the L/U all the way out.
After it came off, the rest was a breeze. There were 4 little bolts holding the top half of the water pump housing. After taking those off, you will see the impeller inside. Just take it out. Put your new gaskets on IN THE ORDER YOU TOOK THEM OFF. Put the upper housing back on and torque the bolts. Mine were 7/16 wich took about 28in lbs or torque. Also my kit came with a washer fairler thick that goes on the big tube that attaches to the water pump housing. I replaced that as well. There were also gaskets for the lower part of the pump housing. Those gaskets looked great on mine, so I didn't repace them even though I should have.
Also, I was told, and it worked great to install the impeller like this:
Put the gaskets on, put the impeller on. (Slide it over the little key that is a part of the shaft and turn the impeller. MAke sure it turns the shaft.
Slide the top housing down to the impeller. Turn the shaft clockwise slowly while pushing down slightly on the top of the housing. The housing will slide over the impeller. Then tighten your 4 bolts.
After that is done. Slide the L/U back up. Of course mine wouldn't slide back up very easy. I had to turn the prop counter clockwise, and it locked in. Tightened the bolts, and then tested it out. Water squirted out with force!!
Good luck! Now onto the CARBS...
