1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

[JDusza]

Hi,
I have a 1976 Evinrude 55, 55673E, that needs a new upper rubber mount.
I'm trying to pull the power head, but, it won't split at the exhaust housing.
Carburetors and starter are off.
The electronics are still attached.
I have removed (8) bolts around the exhaust housing, two adapter to housing screws and the shift rod linkage.
I expected the block to lift off, but, it won't budge.
So, I went to drop the lower unit to pull the drive shaft from the engine, but, no. Removed the four bolts and the bolt at the trim tab. The shift rod is disconnected.
Again, this thing would drop down. Doesn't budge.
Any ideas on what's hanging this up and how to loosen it?
Thanks,
J

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

Another horror story to follow.

I'm not going to suggest this is your problem but this is something I just experienced myself. In my case it was a 1988 Evinrude 70hp.
When I bought the boat and motor I'd already knew there was a problem as the seller had tried to remove the lower to replace the water pump. Well they got it to drop about 1/2" and it wouldn't go any farther. They even tried big pry bars to the point that they broke the exhaust housing.

After sitting in my garage all winter on the floor and upside down I decided it was time to do something, anything to try and get it apart.
As the exhaust housing was already trashed I decided to cut it up to get to the driveshaft. Still couldn't seperate it so I cut the driveshaft as well. Now with the lower unit and exhaust off I still had the rest of the shaft stuck in the crank. With a pipe wrench and a 5# hammer I was able to beat it out.

After all that what I found was that the splines on the crank and the splines on the driveshaft were worn down so badly that the shaft spun in the crank and locked up. The drive shaft could have been replaced but the crank was toast also.

What you could try to do is get it back into a gear, jam the prop with a piece of wood so it wont turn and then try turning the flywheel in a counter rotation and see if it comes loose.

Again I'm not trying to suggest this is what has happened to yours just that it may be a possiblity.

 

[JDusza]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

Ouch!
Well, gotta try something.....
Thanks,
J

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

I have to admit, they sure don't leave many options when the driveshaft sticks.

I'm guessing you have it off the boat. Did it move at all? On that 70hp I was able to see the driveshaft up towards the powerhead when looking through the transom clamp by the yoke. If you have the same try soaking some penetrating oil into it. Then again you need to find a way to turn the crank counter rotation with out the driveshaft moving. If in fact the splines are jammed up. That's what helped in my situation.

 

[JDusza]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

Check.
Haven't worked on it today.
Did try to get penetrating oil up the shaft.
Plan to get at it tomorrow.
Yes, got to jam the crank.
I've been tapping on the crank, too.
Thanks,
J

 

[JDusza]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

Still nothing. Both power head and lower unit are unbolted, but, I can't use the word "free". We can neither pull the engine of the exhaust nor drop the lower unit.
So, based on the bad upper mount, let's say this thing had been shaking for a season or two. Would the shake cause drive spline binding?
Thanks,
J

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

J, I can't answer that question but my gut feeling is that it could but I doubt it. In the case of that 70hp it appears that the oring on the shaft was never installed at some point because there wasn't one on it when I finally got it lose. I suspect water intrusion on this one which caused the wear.

In your case it could also be that this hasn't been removed in some time and could just be corroded and not spun. I know it's impossible to see in there so it also make it impossible to tell just what the problem is.

Would surely hate to see you have to go through what I did! At least in my case I had an already trashed piece to start with.

 

[JDusza]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

Feels funny giving up...
O-ring could be gone. That would make sense. All the rubbers from the mount have been rotted by grease / oil. O-ring is probably gone, too. There's been a lot of gunk sitting in there for a long, long time.
Stories are coming forward and they all share unhappy endings.
Cheers!
J

 

[bea413]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 55 Won't Split

J, Did you give up then or just take a break on your 55HP?

I have a thread going now on "stuck gear case" on 55773D. It is long and sad.

I broke some of the aluminum rib off the lower gear case pounding on it. Then Panhead Jim told me to pull the power head.

I first tried to split it at the bottom of the transition piece in error, after taking the 8 bolts out, that I thought held on the power head, and the two 1/4 inch bolts. I managed to damage the copper water tube with wedges and of course the head would not come off as I was separating in the wrong spot. I also had missed the stud in the middle of the back that goes through the transition piece up into the powerhead.

After Jim pointed out I was trying in the wrong spot, I jerked and yanked and wiggled the power head in the correct area. I was just about to give up, and I decided to pry on the gearcase one last time. Clunk! Down it came. The water pump didn't even look to bad after 16 years. The o ring at top of ds was okay too.

I still have major issues, but I did get the gear case off. I now need to get the exhaust mid section out so I can drill out four twisted off bolts and fix the water tube I broke. I haven't managed yet as some more bolts are tight and I am not exactly sure how to get this off.

All this because I thought it might not be pumping water, and I saw creamy oil in the gear case.

I actually started shopping for motors or boats with motors thinking I would fix my existing in the winter and then sell. I don't know what to do yet.

All this to say, I feel your pain, and you are not alone. Give me any comments you have on my thread "stuck gear case" if you want.

Do you have parts for sale, ha, ha? Later, Bruce