- Joined
- Sep 1, 2013
- Messages
- 7,227
- Reaction score
- 1,354
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Allentown, PA & Friendship, ME
- Model
- Offshore
When I bought this Grady (about 6 or 7 years ago), I did not immediately drop the lower unit from the Yamaha OX66 250HP. Well, two years later I tried... no luck. Tried again the following year, no luck. I tried everything... wedges, hammer, a bigger hammer, leaving the securing bolts loose while running the boat... nothing. I can get some space between the lower and the mid-section at the back or front of the lower unit (not at the same time), but not really anything in the middle. This leads me to believe that the driveshaft is stuck in the crank. Not an unheard of problem.
Currently, it's still pumping really good water (I generally boat in deep water) but I want to give this another shot this winter BEFORE I "need" to do it. So I brought the boat home from Maine (I'm in PA) this year. Here's my plan:
-- Hang the engine upside down by the lower unit and loosen (but not remove) the main bolts that hold it together along the side of the casing (I'll fully remove the other ones)
-- Dribble all kinds of salt/rust eating liquid onto the driveshaft (which I think I can get to) over the winter. Phosphoric acid, muriatic acid, industrial vinegar (30%), whatever. Probably all of them!
-- Add some wedges for good measure
-- If I can get an air chisel (with a blunt tip) onto the driveshaft, gently use that to shock the driveshaft.
My last resort would be to cut a hole in the midcase and cut the driveshaft and then try using a slide hammer on the shaft stub. I do have a spare lower unit.
Questions for anyone with ideas:
-- How to freakin' hang it? The only thing I can think of is to use a ratchet strap (two, just for caution) between the anti-vent plate and gear housing with a rope tied onto the strap on either side of the lower unit, making a "loop" that I can then hang the engine by. I don't think the strap will slide off.
-- Any other ideas/words of wisdom?
Currently, it's still pumping really good water (I generally boat in deep water) but I want to give this another shot this winter BEFORE I "need" to do it. So I brought the boat home from Maine (I'm in PA) this year. Here's my plan:
-- Hang the engine upside down by the lower unit and loosen (but not remove) the main bolts that hold it together along the side of the casing (I'll fully remove the other ones)
-- Dribble all kinds of salt/rust eating liquid onto the driveshaft (which I think I can get to) over the winter. Phosphoric acid, muriatic acid, industrial vinegar (30%), whatever. Probably all of them!
-- Add some wedges for good measure
-- If I can get an air chisel (with a blunt tip) onto the driveshaft, gently use that to shock the driveshaft.
My last resort would be to cut a hole in the midcase and cut the driveshaft and then try using a slide hammer on the shaft stub. I do have a spare lower unit.
Questions for anyone with ideas:
-- How to freakin' hang it? The only thing I can think of is to use a ratchet strap (two, just for caution) between the anti-vent plate and gear housing with a rope tied onto the strap on either side of the lower unit, making a "loop" that I can then hang the engine by. I don't think the strap will slide off.
-- Any other ideas/words of wisdom?