Now What? (Lower Unit Removal)

[Pete Collin]

Hello All,

I got some excellent advice from this group about how to decouple the shifter rod from my lower unit, so that I can remove it to replace the seals.  Now that everything is undone, I can't get the lower unit to budge!  I undid the 6 bolts from underneath (including the one hidden by the trim tab).  But giving it some good taps with a wooden mallet won't get it to budge.  Not even a little crack is opening between the lower unit and the shaft.  I want to ask if there is somethign I may be overlooking before I really whale on it.  What could be keeping it on there now?

[rolmops]

If you are sure that you have removed everything holding it, you should squirt some penetrating oil around the seam ,let it sit a bit and then heat it up a bit, just enough for the aluminum to expand a bit and spray some more penetrating oil. then take a wooden mallet and jut tap on the lower unit  sideways so it vibrates enough to allow the penetrating oil to do its thing. After you have done that a bit you can also start hitting it with downward force. That usually does the trick. It is amazing what a bit of heat does to aluminum. It can also be the shift rod that is still stuck in its housing.

Edited December 16, 2021 by rolmops

[rolmops]

Pete, just to make it easier, check out this youtube. It should help you.