Hi all, I am new here and could really use some help,please. I have a Johnson 20 hp (J20CRCDC mod. #) which as far as I can find, makes it an 1986. I have owned it for about 17-18 years and it has always ran fine. I recently took it out for the first time in 2 years (I know, its embarrassing) and it steamed a bit in the morning , more than I remember it ever doing. In checking around on this sight I found that the impeller on the water pump should be replaced from time to time. I've never done that and am trying to now. I have removed the propeller, the water intake screens, disconnected the shift rod connector & removed the 4 bolts and 1 nut that hold the lower unit on. I cannot get the forward section of the lower unit to break loose. The rear section wants to drop but the forward section is hung up and will not drop. There was some corrosion around the front stud that sticks up out of the lower unit (that the 1 nut goes on) and I scraped it with a dental pick and sprayed some penetrating oil in there. I have firmly tapped the stuffing out of it with a rubber mallet and have removed the spark plugs and spun the flywheel while shaking, tugging and tapping on it. I have searched past threads and read through the shop manual numerous times and I just don't get it. As far as I'm finding I haven't forgotten anything and am wondering if somebody else has had this problem with an older motor that hasn't been apart. Any help would be greatly appreciated, am I missing something?
