1954 Johnson 5.5 lower unit drain screw

[boat123boat]

Hi: I am new at this and have started to restore a 54 Johnson 5.5 Model CD10.
Draining the lower unit was no problem except that the drain screw won't go back in unless I turn the motor completely upside down. 90 deg won't do it. A piece of metal appears to have come from somewhere and is blocking the threaded opening. The metal acts like it is spring loaded! Upside down the drain screw goes in as it should. I don't have a shop manual (yet-guess I should get one) and I fear something bad has happened in the lower unit. Does anyone know what is going on in this unit? Thanks very much. Jerry Schneberger

[wbeaton]

Hi: I am new at this and have started to restore a 54 Johnson 5.5 Model CD10.
Draining the lower unit was no problem except that the drain screw won't go back in unless I turn the motor completely upside down. 90 deg won't do it. A piece of metal appears to have come from somewhere and is blocking the threaded opening. The metal acts like it is spring loaded! Upside down the drain screw goes in as it should. I don't have a shop manual (yet-guess I should get one) and I fear something bad has happened in the lower unit. Does anyone know what is going on in this unit? Thanks very much. Jerry Schneberger

Sure, sounds like something is broken in there. You need to take it apart. You can just remove the skeg to take a look. Personally, I'd take right apart and check the internal shock absorber.

PM me for the parts manual.

[samo_ott]

I bet he took out the shifter screw. Was it a slotted head or a phillips (star) head? A phillips head is the shifter screw. Hard to get back in properly but it's doable and critical to shifter operation. The larger slotted screw is the drain screw. And there's one higher up the LU to match it. It's the vent screw. Which did you remove?

[wbeaton]

I bet he took out the shifter screw. Was it a slotted head or a phillips (star) head? A phillips head is the shifter screw. Hard to get back in properly but it's doable and critical to shifter operation. The larger slotted screw is the drain screw. And there's one higher up the LU to match it. It's the vent screw. Which did you remove?

Yes, you are probably right, Steve.

[samo_ott]

Dang... I wish I got that from the wife more often!!!

[boat123boat]

Thanks guys. I did take out the wrong screw. Dumb.

May I ask another question? This engine has spark and compression. My next step is to check the impeller which apparently means removing the power unit. Once the six or so machine screws are removed will the power unit separate easily and will getting to the impeller be obvious. Thanks. Jerry S

[asdasc]

Yes, it comes off easily when you pull the 7 (?) screws. Have a digital camera ready and be carefull not to disturb the stack of springs and washers/gaskets on top of the drive shaft until you get a couple pictures so that you can easily put it back together. Then post the pictures, so I can put mine back together!

Actually, mine is apart, but as long as no one bumps my motor stand I have all the parts lined up in a row in the order they came off.

[wbeaton]

Thanks guys. I did take out the wrong screw. Dumb.

May I ask another question? This engine has spark and compression. My next step is to check the impeller which apparently means removing the power unit. Once the six or so machine screws are removed will the power unit separate easily and will getting to the impeller be obvious. Thanks. Jerry S

You might have to break the base gasket seal, but it'll pop off pretty easily. Then disconnect the shift rod where it connects to the shift handle. Remove the four bolts that hold the lower unit on and pull down in the lower unit. The impeller is located in the housing at the base of the driveshaft.