lower unit rebuild

[illMATTic]

so i pulled the lower unit from the motor i purchased (86 merc 200), to change the impeller. i put it on a stand i made and drained it. first came about 3-4 fl oz of water. second was about 5-6 oz of what looked like butterscotch topping. mmmmmmmmm butterscotch.

after whipping everything i could reach i pulled the impeller housing off to expose the womped out upper bearing.

Now for my question. what should i look for when pulling this apart? the guy told me it shifted and ran smooth before it was put away.

haver you ever seen that movie Money Pit with Tom Hanks?

[optimax135]

Well unfortunately, unless you have special tooling to tear it apart, you are subject to finding a dealer or backyard mechanic that does. If you change the bearing you have to check the shimming on the pinion gear after replacing. I recommend having someone that has knowledge on this subject to repair it. If you try it yourself it may cost more than you bargained for to repair. I really don't recommend doing it yourself unless your wallet has an extra 3000.00 to 4000.00 dollars laying in it. Just some freindly advice and good luck!

[illMATTic]

well fortunately for me, im not an idiot and am pretty creative. taking the lower unit apart was a walk in the park.

is there supossed to be any in/out play in the prop shaft? mine had about a 1/16th ". would it be smart to just change all the bearings while i have it apart? most of the roller bearings look fine on the prop shaft.

[crazy horse]

The prop shaft will have a small amount of end play. It should be lightly spring loaded and move about 1/16. You need to check the gear faces, If there real shinny or pitted you might want to change them also the clutch surfaces should be check. The bearings should have no pitting and unless they roll super smooth change them. Check both shafts making sure there not bent, Check the areas the the seals run on. Make sure no bearings have spun in the case. That the stuff I can think of right now. :rolleyes:

[illMATTic]

ok so i have it all pulled apart. the upper drive shaft bearing isnt set up like it looks in the manual. it is 180* from it. which one is more common?

how much play is there in a brand new roller bearing? im sure it is different for all. all mine look great but the top one pictured. it has the most play.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/boombip/DSC01178.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/boombip/DSC01180.jpg

[Raceman]

Just curious, without the tools, how are you gonna set pinion depth, backlash, etc?

[illMATTic]

i have decided to only change the upper drive shaft bearing. all the others are in good condition. i will not have to adjust any of the backlash or pinion depth.


Just curious, without the tools, how are you gonna set pinion depth, backlash, etc?

[Skittles]

that is for a preload style gearcase and yours is the newer style (non-preload). You need the right manual to start.

Without the right tools and manuals you really are playing with fire here. Anytime you change an internal part of a gearcase you should check it. It makes no sense not to.:cool:

[H2OPERF]

Exactly. Is the upper bearing pitted from previous rust?If not there was most likely nothing wrong with that case when the gears load up they push the tapered bearing into the race and the play your feeling will be gone. You will have to check the lash if you change a tapered bearing, timken style bearings are made by many ditterent manufacturers there not all exactly the same width. Dave

[illMATTic]

Exactly. Is the upper bearing pitted from previous rust?If not there was most likely nothing wrong with that case when the gears load up they push the tapered bearing into the race and the play your feeling will be gone. You will have to check the lash if you change a tapered bearing, timken style bearings are made by many ditterent manufacturers there not all exactly the same width. Dave

the upper bearing just seemed to have more play than i thought it should have. it worked very smooth when turned.the bearing itself looks fine, just loose feeling.

[illMATTic]

i dont think i have disrupted anything while pulling it apart. if i dont replace any parts, should i take it to have it set properly? i can put it together the way it was taken apert. it was all stock specs.

[optimax135]

Dude I was just trying to give you some friendly advice. Obviously you know more about this subject than I. Being creative with a gearcase is exactly what you want to do. Go ahead and put her back together without shimming anything and I'm sure it will last for a good 30 or 40 years. Why ask for advice if you already know the answer? I'd throw the manual in the trash and put it back together your way..............I guess we're the idiots here. :cool:

[1BadAction]

its a gearcase, not the space shuttle.

[optimax135]

You put it together for him than.....you must have went to the same training facility together. It's just a gearcase......this type of attitude makes me alot money. Keep giving your great advice..........unbelieveable!

[1BadAction]

You put it together for him than.....you must have went to the same training facility together. It's just a gearcase......this type of attitude makes me alot money. Keep giving your great advice..........unbelieveable!

Lets see... $250 for a reputable place to rebuild it ONCE, or $150 for the correct tools and I can do it myself as many times as I want. I was SUCKERED into pissing away $250 one time, then I seen how simple it was. Any monkey with the right tools and the shop manual can do it just as good as a dealer can. If you think a gearcase is complicated, you need to get out into the real world.

PS. the reason why suckers keep bringing you gearcases is your kind makes it out to be some kind of "black art" that it isnt.:rolleyes:

[Skittles]

I dont think anyone said he couldn't do it himself, just that it would be impossible to set pinion height/backlash without the right "special tools" ...........

[Capt.Insane-o]

Gimmie a call ay work, I'll stick it back together and make sure everything is ok for a nominal fee. I'll be by saginaw next weekend. Trust me, you want to make sure the pinion depth is correct. Check yer pm's.

[alan griffiths]

Ill
good on ya for having a go.It is poeple like you that are comming
up with al the new technolagies becouse they can think for them selves
and impovise adapt and overcome a problem.
gear cases are not rocket science ,However the better you set them
up the longer they last.
If no one ever thought for them selves in this world we would still
be throwing rocks and living in caves.

[inspectorlance]

Dude I was just trying to give you some friendly advice. Obviously you know more about this subject than I. Being creative with a gearcase is exactly what you want to do. Go ahead and put her back together without shimming anything and I'm sure it will last for a good 30 or 40 years. Why ask for advice if you already know the answer? I'd throw the manual in the trash and put it back together your way..............I guess we're the idiots here. :cool:



HOW did a gear case question turn into HOSTILE posts ??? Opti ??? Am I missing something here ?? As far as I can tell illMATTic was just asking a friendly question, and was getting good info, and all of a sudden some slamming !!!! ?????

Lance

[illMATTic]

hey guys, thanks for all the info. you have to figure though, with many new members daily we are going to get some answers we dont like. i did learn from this thread though. i think im going to have captn. insano finish the work on the lower unit.

i started the thread before i picked up a manual. i have a habit of jumping right into things blind. most times i can figure it out. im sure i could do this. i guess i dont want to learn on my only gearcase. :rolleyes:

[Superbender]

Well said,hope all works out for you.

[kentz]

so i pulled the lower unit from the motor i purchased (86 merc 200), to change the impeller. i put it on a stand i made and drained it. first came about 3-4 fl oz of water. second was about 5-6 oz of what looked like butterscotch topping. mmmmmmmmm butterscotch.

after whipping everything i could reach i pulled the impeller housing off to expose the womped out upper bearing.

Now for my question. what should i look for when pulling this apart? the guy told me it shifted and ran smooth before it was put away.

haver you ever seen that movie Money Pit with Tom Hanks? I have 24ft deep v python/pantara 1991 with twin 280's. Nice boat if your interested ill send pics

[Capt.Insane-o]

I have a 12 year old calendar too if you want to want to check how old this thread is.

[racervboat]

well im not the only one to spot that 12 year old post lol

[flabum1017]

I have a 12 year old calendar too if you want to want to check how old this thread is.


Well, did you help him put it back together or not????? :D:D:leaving:

[rock]

and is it still together.