electramatic lower unit disassembly

H

Hiskid

Cadet
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
26
Johnson 40 HP Electramatic Model # 40ESL 69R

Just got this earlier this week; no history, but the boat hasn't been registered for a while. The lower unit showed evidence of water when drained, and I removed it from the rest of the engine. The long vertical shaft ("driveshaft," I think) will not turn, and does not come out of the lower unit like it's supposed to. The top and bottom halves of the lower unit separate only about 1/2" and will go not further, feels and sounds like metal stopping it. I'm guessing stuff is rusted together inside.

Any experience or success with this sort of thing. Maybe I'm just misreading the manual?

Thanks ahead of time.
-Rick
 
B

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
Re: electramatic lower unit disassembly

Sounds to me like you need a new lower unit.
 
H

Hiskid

Cadet
Joined
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Messages
26
Re: electramatic lower unit disassembly

Yeah, I'm thinking you're right. I guess if the lower unit is already trash, there's nothing to lose by using some brute force on it at this point.

All my experience with boat motors is this past summer volunteering work on a mercruiser and mercury outboard carb. rebuild. This is more or less "my" first. Ebay? Craigslist? Any other good places to look for a lower unit? Thanks.-Rick
 
B

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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Re: electramatic lower unit disassembly

You could also try the top secret files at the begining of this forum and look for salvage yards.
 
H

Hiskid

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Messages
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Re: electramatic lower unit disassembly

I'll check out those files. Thanks.

Now I'm thinking it would be good to confirm the engine (power head) is not in need of serious $ repair before sinking significant money into a lower unit. If I can't (shouldn't) run it without a lower unit (no water pump), am I left with a mere compression check to help me decide if it's worth further investment?
 
B

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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Messages
20,826
Re: electramatic lower unit disassembly

You can hook a garden hose with the right adapters to the water tube coming out of the bottom and try to start it up.
 
H

Hiskid

Cadet
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
26
Re: electramatic lower unit disassembly

Good advice. Since it's near "end of season," it may be a while (next year) before I work through the engine, but I'll report back with the results. Thanks.

-Rick
 
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