1972 65hp johnson water pump problems

[jhyams00]

hi i have 15 seacraft with johnson hydro electric shift model 65-esl72s the problem im having is when i remove all the bolt from the lower unit something is still holding it up. i dont want to break anything the shaft seems free and it goes down about 3 to 4 inches but then stops and you can turn left to right but not down any help would be appreciated

[Daviet]

Did you remove the bolt under the trim tab?

[jhyams00]

yep i got it out.its dropping down but i think it is wire from solenoid thats in front of water pump but i dont see no way to disconnect wire because it only drops 4 inches or so is it normal to have wires down there?

[Daviet]

The wire harness will come down with the lower unit. Disconnect the two knife terminals on the starboard side of the block and tie a string or something on them to pull them back up when you install the lower unit. Sometimes the harness will corrode into the passage that it goes through and you have to just try and work some lube into it.

[jhyams00]

where exactly do these wires go it looks like the stick in head and im not sure how to remove from the top half i dont see any knife terminals do i just pull out of head?

[Daviet]

The wires go from the shift switch in the control box down to the shift solenoids in the lower unit. From the factory there were knife connectors covered with rubber slip boots. Follow the wires to where they go into the exhaust housing, use a very small narrow screw driver and probe around the wires where they go through the exhaust housing. Try and work some lube (WD40) around the wires, they have to pull down through exhaust housing to remove the lower unit.

[jhyams00]

thanks for all the help ill try in the morn. is this normal to have solenoid down there in all the videos i watched on lower unit removal ive never seen any with wires to remove im new to this so just curious

[Daviet]

Your gearcase is shifted with solenoids controlled by the shift switch in the control box. Have a look at #52 below. You probably were looking at manual shift lower unit.
http://www.ishopmarine.com/ishop/jsp...ier-100-005-EJ

[jhyams00]

thanks for the all the help i will tackle in morning. do you know if i can use reg fluid in lower unit when i change or does it need to be special for this type of lower unit?

[jhyams00]

that was the problem worked great pulled right out. found wire and greased up just like you said thanks a million!!!!

[ADK_Boater]

Electric shifts from that era require "Type C" gear lube. You need it because it is less conductive than typical 90 weight gear lubes. It will not shift properly without the right oil...possibly even erratic shifts that can ruin your clutch dogs.