1997 175hp Gearcase Anode Replacement?

[JoLin]

I'm a fairly competent wrench twirler, but an outboard motor newbie.

According to the manual and parts catalog, there's an anode inside the gearcase housing, screwed to the propeller shaft bearing housing. Also according to the manual, I'd need to use a puller to remove the shaft bearing housing in order to unscrew and replace the anode.

Frankly, this will be my first attempt at winterizing, new impeller-izing and generally getting to know an outboard motor, and I didn't intend to start by playing around inside the gearcase. Is this anode a regular maintenace item? If I go forward with replacement do I run any risk of upsetting gear shimming/clearance?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1997 175hp Gearcase Anode Replacement?

John, it is so hard to replace this anode, I would doub't it needs replacement too ofter (maybe never, under normal circumstances). also, if you keep the motor tilted up out of the water, there will be littly deterioatation of the anode.

Change the anode on the base of the transom bracket, if it needs it, and inspect the one in the gearcase (actually exhaust passage).

 

[JoLin]

Re: 1997 175hp Gearcase Anode Replacement?

Thanks, Chris - my thought was also that it seemed an odd place to put something that needed regular maintenance, but I've seen stranger things in my years. I'm definitely replacing the other two. Anytime I buy a car or in this case, an outboard, I try to take care of all the normal stuff to provide myself a baseline for going forward.

When I pull the prop I'll see if there's anything that can be seen without disassembly. Part of me hates to let it slide, but the other part (which I'm listening to today) has decided it can wait until I've gained more knowledge and confidence