1961 Merc 60 6hp lower unit

[apex]

I pulled out the old merc from the garage and have been flyin around the lake the past couple of days but it was running hot so I pulled the lower unit off to find the impeller was beat up and the unit was full of water and sand. I thought I would just have to put in a new impeller and fill it with gear lube but I do not think the gear lube will stay in because it is not air tight. My only reason for thinking this is because the 'intake grate' for the sucking of the water that leads to the water pump (hard to word. sorry). The grate is held on by the same nut used to hold on the lower unit and by a hook like end (like a tv remote). There is a hole for that hook end that goes right into the lower unit. Any advice you can give me is highly appreciated.

 

[corm]

Re: 1961 Merc 60 6hp lower unit

Hi,

You are getting the water in th e LU through the swals. In an engine of that age I would guess that the shafts are rusted so the seals can not hold in the LU oil. You can put speede-sleves on the rused part of the shafts if you can find some that small I used to use ones made by Chicago Rawhide seal company. Other seal companies have them too. Check an auto parts store for them. If you can not find any of them the right size you could try relocating the seal a little so the sealing lip is riding on a smooth surface.