replacing water pump

[MASTER Brian]

I am currently rebuilding my 1986 XP150 and I went ahead and purchased a complete water pump repair kit.

I would like to replace this water pump, while the power head is off. I have an OEM Manual as well. My question is does the prop have to actually be removed? ...if so, why?

The manual says to rotate the prop shaft and shift the gearcase into reverse before removing the shift rod screw. Well, the shift rod is unhooked, being as the P.H. is off. Does this hurt anything? It's likely in the neutral position.

I have tried removing the oil level plug and the fill/drain plug, but can't seem to get them to budge. Is there a trick?

It sounds like at this point, all I need to do is remove the screw/bolt under the trim tab and the 4 bolts that mount the L.U. to the Mid Section and the L.U. should just drop down, am I correct? ....and possibly pull the prop?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: replacing water pump

It is not necessary to remove the prop to drop the lower unit. Its primarily done to prevent damage to the prop and to allow the lower unit to be placed into a holding fixture (which you probably don't have). If you have the shift rod disconnected the lower unit will drop when all the bolts are removed. As for the fill and drain plugs, use the largest flat blade screwdriver you can find. Using a smaller one only buggers up the slot. Use an adjustable wrench on the shaft of the screwdriver to help with the twisting.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: replacing water pump

"I would like to replace this water pump, while the power head is off. I have an OEM Manual as well. My question is does the prop have to actually be removed? ...if so, why?"

Nope, no need to remove prop....

"The manual says to rotate the prop shaft and shift the gearcase into reverse before removing the shift rod screw. Well, the shift rod is unhooked, being as the P.H. is off. Does this hurt anything? It's likely in the neutral position."

Nope, if your motor was all together, shifting into reverse allows easier access to the shift linkage connector. Since yours is already apart, this does not apply. Shift gear shift into reverse position when you re-assemble the motor, it makes it easier to reconnect the shift coupler

"I have tried removing the oil level plug and the fill/drain plug, but can't seem to get them to budge. Is there a trick?"

Depending on wether the plugs are corroded in, some folks find the use of one of the screw extractors that you hit with a hammer. Gees, the name eludes me at the moment...I've had one for years too!

"It sounds like at this point, all I need to do is remove the screw/bolt under the trim tab and the 4 bolts that mount the L.U. to the Mid Section and the L.U. should just drop down, am I correct? ....and possibly pull the prop?"

That's about it...no reason to remove prop, just don't drop it on your foot.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: replacing water pump

Good to know. What about the trim tab and the bolt under it? I don't see how that holds anything, except as you say to set it in a fixture, which I don't have.

A friend thinks he has a large screwdriver with a place for a wrench to aid in twisting, I'll see if I can remember to grab it when I see him tonight.

So, this shouldn't take but maybe a few hours at most if everything goes well....:/

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: replacing water pump

That's about it...no reason to remove prop, just don't drop it on your foot.

That would SUCK!! :^ At this point the motor is tilted straight down, and very close to the ground, so it wouldn't go far. Which now begs the question, will I be able to drop the L.U. without getting the motor in the air? With everything unhooked, the power tilt/trim doesn't work and the motor doesn't seem to want to budge!! Maybe I can set the trailer tongue on the ground to gain enough clearance....

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: replacing water pump

You will need at least a couple of feet to remove it. Remember, you have the driveshaft and the water tube that has to come out with the lower unit when you lower it.

I always called those Hand held impact drivers, but I don't know what they are really called either. I do know they work....

 

[Xcusme]

Re: replacing water pump

"I always called those Hand held impact drivers, but I don't know what they are really called either. I do know they work.... "

Yup, that's what I call it too when my mind is in gear! Thanks!

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: replacing water pump

Thanks for the help, hopefully I can get that motor to budge now. I'm hoping it's just the angle and the weight as I used to be able to move it, unless the trim is holding it down somehow....

 

[ezeke]

Re: replacing water pump

There should be a manual release valve accessed on the starboard side of the transom bracket.

There is a bolt in front of the trim tab as well as the one hidden above it.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: replacing water pump

You will probably want to remove the prop before you try ro replace the lower unit as it's heavy and awkward enough as it is.

I pulled my back muscles putting my lower unit back on!

 

[91cajun]

Re: replacing water pump

That's about it...no reason to remove prop, just don't drop it on your foot.

That would SUCK!! :^ At this point the motor is tilted straight down, and very close to the ground, so it wouldn't go far. Which now begs the question, will I be able to drop the L.U. without getting the motor in the air? With everything unhooked, the power tilt/trim doesn't work and the motor doesn't seem to want to budge!! Maybe I can set the trailer tongue on the ground to gain enough clearance....

Worst case use some car ramps and back the trailer up on them to get enough hieght to pull the lower unit. It's really not too bad. The OMC manual has good info on how to do it.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: replacing water pump

Well, I found the pressure relief valve and was able to move the motor up. Now I just hope that turning it back seals it back up, because I turned it back a bit, which was tougher to do and I could still easily move the motor. I left it as is for now, so I can move the motor around while working on it.

I did get the L.U. pulled and even found some wonderful shavings in the fluid. Will this ever end???

P.S.
I have a new thread about rebuilding the L.U.

 

[ezeke]

Re: replacing water pump

I discovered all of this without Iboats by just reading the service manual.