2000 50 HP Gearcase seals

[ernie6x6]

Hello all and happy new year. I have gotten some water into the gear case and plan to do a pressure test to find the culprit. If it ends up being a seal as I suspect can I do the seals by just removing both bearing carriers, then removing the seals and replacing them and their associated o ring? Can I get by using a properly sized socket to install the new seals or will I need the "proper" tool for this? Figure to do the impeller at this time as well. Thanks, Ernie

 

[boobie]

The proper tools are better but you can get by using sockets. I've done it for years.

 

[Chris1956]

On my '98 Johnny 150HP motor, the seals press in from the outside on the propshaft and driveshaft. The problem is that you would need exactly the correct piece of pipe (ID and OD and length) to press them in w/o removing the bearing carriers.

​Remember, the gearcase can leak at the propshaft, driveshaft and shift shaft, as well as the gearcase plugs. If she leaks at anything but the propshaft the repair is a lot easier, as the shift shaft cover and driveshaft bearing carrier can be removed without pullers.

​I just replaced my shiftshaft and driveshaft seals. The repair was pretty easy. The driveshaft seal was good.

 

[bob johnson]

I had a 2000 or 2001 50 HP Johnson...and it ate four lower units. Apparently one of their worst designs.... horrific track record...I wouldn't spend too much money on that LU.......

 

[racerone]

That is why you would install new seals and use the best oil you can find in there.

 

[ernie6x6]

Thanks all! Bob, can you elaborate on the poor performance of this lower unit? I have also heard they are the worst but I have about 900 hours on my 50, mostly trolling and this is the first non scheduled maintenance I've had to do. Just maybe what I should be on the lookout for.... Thanks again

 

[ernie6x6]

A little something else, As I'm looking for a seal kit I can't find my model number listed. Looking thru the web it appears that my 05/2000 motor is listed as a 2001. To top it off the model (J50VLSIG) is listed as a V= Special Gearcase. Anyone knows what that might mean? The sn is G04879943. This is getting confusing

 

[racerone]

The ---SI--- indicares it is a 2001 model.

 

[bob johnson]

yeah that's the model I had ..mine had a V in the model as well... I THINK it is a motor sold with a new boat..... "V" special gearcase..... yeah that's a "special" name for junk.. don't know what to say, not sure what was going on inside as the first two repairs-replacements were under warranty..... it just sounded like a blender when it went....I imagine stripped gears galore...maybe sheared keyways ect..... the motor just reved.... one time I was running a frozen lake, but the ice was only about 3/4" thick and I was busting it with the bow of my boat going about 20 mph...... but the prop must have been hitting a lots of the chunks as it just ate up the gears again..I had figured I was splitting the ice and pushing it away from the keep as I went and the prop would be past the junks in now time....I was wrong... then I think I may have bumped a few rocks..usually that just dings up the aluminum props... not on that model...it was devastating on the gears inside....

 

[racerone]

Standard seal kit is used.

 

[ernie6x6]

Appreciate everyones time, Thanks