Good Morning, I have received quite an education on this site, and had a question.
I have a 68 Johnson VXL-14B 65HP, the lower unit casting (part number 378590) that came off the motor was cracked. I ordered a NOS casting from boats.net. The issue I'm having is that in the original (cracked) casting, the pinion thrust washer sat in a machined recess. The new casting does not have this recess, and subsequently, the pinion thrust washer thickness prohibits reassembly of the propeller shaft (i.e. the shift dog hits the pinion gear).
I am now thinking that someone swapped the original lower gearcase for that off a different model.
I have considered machining a recess in the new housing, but it would cost several hundred dollars.
I have also considered fabricating a thinner thrust washer and reassembling, but I'm not sure how much lateral movement is exhibited by the pinion gear (because the thrust washer is no longer sitting in a recess).
In hindsight (20/20), I should have just welded up the old casting and pressure checked it, but I mangled it during dissassembly :facepalm:.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Mike
I have a 68 Johnson VXL-14B 65HP, the lower unit casting (part number 378590) that came off the motor was cracked. I ordered a NOS casting from boats.net. The issue I'm having is that in the original (cracked) casting, the pinion thrust washer sat in a machined recess. The new casting does not have this recess, and subsequently, the pinion thrust washer thickness prohibits reassembly of the propeller shaft (i.e. the shift dog hits the pinion gear).
I am now thinking that someone swapped the original lower gearcase for that off a different model.
I have considered machining a recess in the new housing, but it would cost several hundred dollars.
I have also considered fabricating a thinner thrust washer and reassembling, but I'm not sure how much lateral movement is exhibited by the pinion gear (because the thrust washer is no longer sitting in a recess).
In hindsight (20/20), I should have just welded up the old casting and pressure checked it, but I mangled it during dissassembly :facepalm:.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Mike