Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

Been working on my boat since last post on this site. Trying to remove lower unit to see if my problem is with the power head or lower unit. This is a manual shift unit to the best of my knowlegde.

I have removed the nine sixteeth bolts the five eights bolt the trim tab bolts and marked it like the manual says. Now the lower unit will not seperate completly from the exhaust housing. Is there something else in the shifting rod or is it just hard to break loose? Spring is coming and I need BABY BLUE back on the Ohio river.

Re: Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

The shift rod is disconnected at the top by removing the screw in the center of the parallel bars of the bellcrank and then widening/spreading the two bars at the end of the bellcrank to get the pin out of the barrel swivel at the top of the shift rod.

You should have removed a total of seven bolts at the bottom, including the one holding the trim tab.

Re: Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

I have the seloc manual and I am not exactly sure where to find the disconnect at the bell crank and the pin? Could you explain that procedure and possibly where to find it in the manual would this be under shifting instead of lower unit removal. Thanks alot trying to pull this a part today!

Re: Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

Take a look from the starboard side, under the carburetors, and you will see the bellcrank and how it works. It is a lever with the screw in the center as a fulcrum. Click the thumbnail on my previous entry to enlarge it.

Re: Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

Thanks for the illustration. Not completely sure how to do this at this point. I will use the illustration to get the pin out. After pin is out and the bolts does the lower unit come off easily or do I actually have to put some muscle behind it?

Re: Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

It should come out easily. The barrel swivel at the top needs to go back as it was, so note the position and try not to change it.

The pin stays in the arm of the bellcrank, you just need to spread the forward arm enough to get the pin to release the barrel swivel. Some people don't completely remove the pivot bolt either, but are able to spread the arms enough.

Removing the bolt from the bellcrank is not easy. You usually need to have a universal on an extension for your socket to get it out without removing the carburetor.

Pull a rag under the carburetors to catch parts if you drop them. Disconnecting the shift and throttle cables may help.

I can't help you with the Seloc manual; I don't have one.

Re: Evinrude 1974 85 hp removing lower unit?

Thank you Rear Admiral, this cadet is going to tackle this lower unit to find out if my lower unit or power head is the problem so I can get this boat back on the Ohio river where it belongs. I will let you know how this turns out.

Thanks again!