1958 Evinrude prop shaft seal difficulties

Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Messages
23
Rebuilding the lower unit of a 1958/59 Evinrude 18hp. I have run into trouble with the seal right behind the prop. It looks to be a standard metal clad seal but there is no way to access it. The large copper bushing is hopelessly stuck or was a press fit item. There is no removable cap on the outside to get to it. Does anyone have ideas on how this can be replaced?

Picture links:

https://ibb.co/j7OG6G

https://ibb.co/k5E9tw

https://ibb.co/inVFYw
 
Last edited:

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
36,047
Carefully use a dremel tool to cut into the seal in 2 places and then you can pry it out.--------Press in the new one.
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,195
I may be seeing things, but that looks like one of the old bearing housings with the "large" seal. Furthermore, it looks like it is seriously worn away around the outside, outside of where the seal goes. All this combined has made the aluminum housing very thin around the outside of the seal.

All this to say, once you get it out, you may find you have broken it, or a new seal will be a loose fit.

Go ahead and get it out as racerone said, but be prepared to replace the whole thing. If you do, get one of the newer ones with the smaller seal. Those have a thicker wall around the outside.
 
Joined
Oct 7, 2017
Messages
23
Thanks for the help guys. After tinkering with it a bit more it turns out that the end was indeed a cap that could be popped off. The age made it nearly impossible to tell there was seam. Removing the old seal was a real bugger but It has been replaced.
 
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