Re: 85 evinrude 140 crankshaft seal replace
Well, I haven't done a 1985, but have had plenty of earlier models apart that were of similar construction and I say the seals can be replaced without splitting the crankcase.
Remove all the screws from the crankcase bearing head, including the small ones near the center, and then the head will pull out of the crankcase. It is a slip fit with o-rings. Then the seals are replaced in the head as usual.
The ball bearing is snap-ringed to the crankshaft and will stay there as you pull the head off of it. It is a snug but not press fit. In fact the same thing applies even if you had the case split.
Hint: to reinstall, insert a couple of long screws (with their heads cut off) into the bearing retainer plate to act as guide pins when you reinstall the head. Otherwise, you can't find the holes with the head in the way.
And use some sealer under the heads of the small screws.
Just my 2c.