lower unit removal 18hp

[wallygi]

M18C removed 4 nuts ands washers and disconnected shift linkage, lower unit will not move stuck am I missing something, will heat help. I do not know year motor is blue with silver cowl with a light and dark blue stripes. Thanks,Wally

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

The drive shaft is stuck in the crank shaft...The cure is time and wedges.

 

[wallygi]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

where do you drive the wedges, lower unit will not budge

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

A 1/32 inch wedge just offset of one of the rear bolts. Another 1/32 wedge just offset of the front bolt on the opposite side. Twenty-four hours later you drive in a 1/16 wedge next to each one. The next day you try a 1/8 wedge, etc. You slowly increase the wedge size until the lower unit comes down or until you break the gear housing or something else. There is risk involved. Another method involves pulling the power head and inserting wedges at its base. Since lower units are cheaper than power heads I prefer the former method.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

You might want to try getting a rubber mallet or dead-blow hammer (not a metal hammer!!) and giving the lower unit a few whacks (straight down) on the anti-cavition plate. The vibration/force might be enough to loosen it.

 

[32bit.flannel]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

*BUMP*

Did the wedges work for you, wally? I have the exact same problem with mine, already having tried the dead-blow I'll give the wedges a shot if there's a reasonable chance of not breaking anything.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

This thread is a wee bit old.

 

[32bit.flannel]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

Yeah I'd noticed it was old, but it came up in my search and was _exactly_ what I was going to post about anyway so it made sense. What wedges does one use for this (is there a certain type or name?), and where would they be found? Also, in your experience Guru, what percentage of the time would you say they pop off OK vs "Oooopsy!!"-repair/replacement of parts... I've yet to examine the impeller since getting this motor because the lower unit is stuck on, and though it is spitting water I'd still feel better at least inspecting it (but I have a new one ready to go in if needed).

Oh, and the bottom oil drain screw is stuck too...any ideas for that?

Thanks,

Nick

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

It actually works about 90% of the time..."Wedges" refers to anything that can be wedged rather than a specific tool. Start of with some disposable screw drivers and as they get forced in go to a little larger size and work your way around...One caution. Always start this process where there is the most metal and do not be in a hurry.

 

[pvanv]

Re: lower unit removal 18hp

You can usually use an impact driver to get the LU drain screw out.