Damaged Lower Unit

bprice05

Recruit
Joined
Jun 20, 2006
Messages
1
I've never owned a boat and I know nothing about them other than driving my grandfathers as a kid. I just bought a 71 Mercruiser with the 165hp inline 6. I knew it had a small hole(pic http://duckwebber.net/joomla/images/hole.jpg ) in the lower unit but after I got it home I noticed a 6" crack(pic http://duckwebber.net/joomla/images/crack.jpg ) in it as well. When I removed the drain screw and loosened the vent screw, light brown water came out, then finished with maybe 3 tablespoons of oil. I found a used lower unit, that I'm going to purchase when my wife gives me my next allowance ;) , I'ts from the same boat, with same motor, will I be able to switch them out? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br /> http://duckwebber.net/joomla/images/boat.jpg <br /> http://duckwebber.net/joomla/images/boat1.jpg <br /> http://duckwebber.net/joomla/images//boat2.jpg <br /> http://duckwebber.net/joomla/images//boat3.jpg
 

tystick

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 25, 2003
Messages
278
Re: Damaged Lower Unit

It should be a peice of cake - just pay attention to shift coupler and make sure propeller is engaged or you will get to do it again. :)
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Damaged Lower Unit

It wil fit, but the bad news is that the upper & lower are joined together by an oil passage.....<br />Ie. whatever crap is/was in the lower, is/was in the upper as well......<br />That symptom usually is a direct result of a bad ujoint bellows .....<br />I think you need to start your engine without any drive attached by inserting the proper diameter hose into the bell housing & see if you can get it to turn over...<br />That would be the beginning......<br />Your pics are good, the little hole is normal, the big crack is not....<br />Remove the drive & inspect the ujoints & bellows, & post back....<br />I don't want to be all gloom & doom, but I'd like a pic of those ujoints....<br />The drive needs to be removed to do annual maintenence at the very least...<br />BTW, welcome to the forums at iboats. :) ...<br />WE are here to help......JK
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: Damaged Lower Unit

Haut is right, you need to pull the drive and inspect everything. Your drive had water in it, that froze and cracked that lower housing. If it was full of water (and it sounds like it was), then the gears/bearing in the top have a chance of being rusty. Not to be all gloom and doom, but you may be looking at a complete outdrive replacement.
 
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