How do I remove the lower unit on my 1975 Johnson Stinger II 75 HP?

Question

I have all the bolts removed(including the hidden one) and the lower unit is loose and hanging down. I've also disconnected the shift linkage, but the lower unit will not drop down. What else do I need to do?

Answer 1

Good to see that the old timers are still kicking around, when I saw your question the first thing that came to my mind was the was ORANGE.

Is it orange in colour?

These are re-tuned 70's with bigger carbs. O.K. let's get to the matter at hand.

You say that all the bolts have been removed but let's double check, first there are 4 bolts under the cavitation plate and the 1 under the trim tab remember to mark the trim tab so it goes back in the same place other-wise you'll have to reset by trial and error. Now the NUT which is in the front just above the cavitation plate, then there's the shift rod under the cowling which is a bolt with a locating pin on it.

Take that shifter bolt all the way out and move your control box to forward to separate the shift rod from the yoke make sure it's clear.

If all this is done and still won't come off try putting the gear-case in gear and block the prop with a piece of wood and rock the fly wheel back and forth, some-times the splines on the drive shaft where it meets the crank shaft wear and become locked together.

If this doesn't seem to help try using wooden wedges evenly throughout the split halves and pry apart go slow and evenly. This should work providing all the above mentioned has been removed.

Note: if you replace the water pump impeller use liquid soap and rotate in the correct direction and don't forget to put back the small plastic water tubes to help locate the water transfer pipes.

One more tip if you remove the shift rod from the gear-case count how may turns it takes to unscrew it so that it doesn't throw out your linkage.

Good luck and let me know how things went. Happy boating.