Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

John D · 2K+ Club

Thwarting "Mechanical Mayhem"

SShink · 3K+ Club

Sounds like you've been busy!

Gonna' have Blackie ready for North St. Paul NCC club night?

John D · 2K+ Club

I had two boxes waiting on the steps for me today!

This really is a simple job - anyone with some basic mechanical aptitude, basic tools, and the smarts to watch how it comes apart can do it.

6 bolts (two are hidden, 1 under the trim tab fin, the other under the anode plate) and the lower unit basically falls off!! (Ok, it took a thump with a rubber mallet and a light tug...)

If you don't count the time it took (being my anal-retentive self) cleaning bolts, chasing threads, blasting the anode plate & trim tab, and "dry fitting" it twice... total time was 1-1/2 hours, and I've never done this before!

Pumped 36 oz. of gear lube into it, hooked on the "fake a lake" muffs, and vroom - fired right up. I let it run about 30 minutes in forward, then another 15 in reverse. No noises, heat, or leaks!

The mfg. wants 5 hours of "slow-time" (under 3500 rpm) with at least 10 forward/reverse gear changes, then another 10 hours at no more than 75% power, then 5 more with some full-power holeshots then back off to 75%. After these 20 hours change the gear lube again, and it's good to go.

Lost in the 60s · President

I'm surprised that you've never had to drop a lower unit to replace a water pump. The rubber fins get brittle with age and break right off.

I've had the whole transom mount off of mine when my Dad owned it twice to do "maintenance". Mercury recommends this at certain intervals and you think YOU'RE anal. Not a fun job getting the shaft and shift linkage to line up at the same time.

jim larson · 2K+ Club

Just about took one off in a second last summer up in Canada.

Had to replace the lower unit as soon as we got back home in MN . Will try to miss that rock next week.

John D · 2K+ Club

I'm surprised that you've never had to drop a lower unit to replace a water pump. The rubber fins get brittle with age and break right off.

I'm going on year/season 7 of owning this one, and it had a new pump done just before purchase. Then beginning of year 3 there was a funny noise I couldn't decipher (exhaust flappers in the manifold) so I had it into the shop for that, and had the pump done at that time (and you think car parts/service is crazy expensive!!), and now this year/season it's getting one new by default... so that's why I haven't done one before!