Help dropping lower unit

[tsubaki]

I believe there is one bolt under the torque fin also.
The one that holds the zinc anode may have needed to be be removed and the 4 visible ones. 6 total, possibly. Well 7 including the bolt that holds the torque adjuster.
Most of the time you can shift either foward or reverse and that would seperate the foot from the housing.
In some cases I have needed to shim and pry to complete the removal. This is done with wood shims, not a screwdriver.

[tsubaki]

Correction, there are 4 that are the same size around the exterior.
The one for the zinc anode may or maynot need to be removed (do it).
The torgue adjuster (trim tab) and bolt, and the one under it.
And the large one, forward of the torque adjuster.
8 total.

[macojoe]

They are all out, and shift rod disconnected? I guess I will wait till BS gets here tomorrow?

Getting ready for thunder boomers now!

[nymack66]

I am assuming you absolutely sure all the bolts are removed, then it frozen on the upper splines place the boat in forward or reverse and grab the prop and rock it hard back and forth whilst a friend or help gently tap on the lower unit with a piece of wood and sledge hammer it will eventually drop please take your time and error on the side of patience.
Someone did not do a good job lubricating the shaft previously.

[macojoe]

Weare going to try this tomorrow I was alone today. The guy I got the motor from said he had the water pump changed every year! Well he lied as the pump is weak, and won't come apart. and a few other things also say he was not as up on maintance as he lead me to belive!

O well Ihope things work out in the am!

Thanks

[spareparts]

spammed again I see. MJ's been so worried about fixing his water pump that he missed this one. As far as the water pump goes, Mercurys won't pee good till the thermostats open up. But its good practice to change them out once a year or whenever susupect. You don't have to do anything to the shift linkage other than shift it in fwd gear. there is one nut on the fwd top side of the gear case, two nuts right under the cavitation plate, two nuts(one on each side) halfway back. Remove the trim tab and one bolt under it facing up. If it doean't want to come off, you can use a pry bar leveraged on the two studs that hold the lower unit on. Look for a small air gap to show up wgere the unit splits apart. You may have to use a screw driver to get the lower unit moving. They sometimes get stuck up where the alignment pins are. The fwd stud get stuck sometimes also. IS this a 20" motor with a 5" spacer?

[macojoe]

Spamer gone !

And as for the Merc, BS put a brandn new water pump on it just before the install, so I am good to go!! Thanks!