1979 Evinrude 55 HP - Removing Lower Like A Pro!

[@talketcinc]

Wood shims to help force it down then bump the motor in forward and reverse a dozen times, that's how I got mine out

[@josephp3403]

I just got a 1979 Johnson 55hp shorty and it's been sitting for a decade...outside. However everything is intact so i'm going to try to resurrect it. I'm also worried about being able to get the lower unit off. If indeed I cannot get the lower off, I may slowly hang the motor upside down so the weight of the motor is pulling on the driveshaft. After hitting it with penetrating oil, i'll give everything some taps with a hammer. If it doesnt split, I'll take sheet metal shims and add one at a time between the leg and lower unit mixed with some tapping and it should let go. Older Mercs are notorious for this issue and this has always worked for me.

[@BrandonsGarage]

When I find a motor with a stuck lower again, thats my plan too. Problem is, this has a broken exhaust housing too; at that point cutting into it doesnt really matter.

[@BrandonsGarage]

How did it go?

[@John_Doe_6996]

Joseph P I too am working on an old 1978 evinrude 70hp... it has seen better days, tons of rust and I broke alot of bolts....take your time and dont give up, she will come apart

[@redline9579]

@@John_Doe_6996 i got same motor runs mint

[@idahoweez7242]

You ever sell parts of those old 80' 50 hp Johnsons ?

[@storminormtharp5948]

Remind me to never let you touch my stuff ever

[@BrandonsGarage]

OMG I know right!

[@guynoir4733]

You could've used a hole saw and then an air chisel with downward pressure and epoxy the hole sawed piece back into the mid section and then you have a 50% chance of the splines being bad on the driveshaft and in the crankshaft . I've done this many times when all else failed .

[@keithmcnasty3506]

Well Holy! I think penetrating fluid, time and patience plus wouldnt it help to hammer the top of the shaft holding the flywheel? A little heat would prolly help also yea? Jus sayin'. Any thoughts to this?

[@BrandonsGarage]

I have the driveshaft attached to a chain, hanging upside down from an old engine hoist. Weight of the powerhead is down, trying to pull itself out. Every now and then, I smack it with a hammer, and/or spray something down there. A year and a half later, its still stuck. I never meant for it to go this long, figured I would give it a few weeks, but hey, its space I'm not using anyway. And its fun to see if it ever drops.

[@keithmcnasty3506]

@@BrandonsGarage what i mean is, take the flywheel off, and use a heavy hammer to shock it off but cycle the heat on the rod by heating and cooling a few times first, see if you can drill through the rod and pull just as you hammer the top. bet thatll work. Strange situation tho.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I readdressed this again, cutting the powerhead off the exhaust housing, and removing the crank. Let me tell you, it is in there.

[@redline9579]

I need that midd section dame to late

[@alexdominguez1795]

I have pulled lowers like this before. Hook up strait to the crankshaft and unbolt the motor. Hook to the cherry picker and drop and stop it and almost all the time it will separate without destroying the drive shaft and midsection.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I put it on a car hauler trailer, strapped it down, and attached the winch to the lower; and it still didn't go. It was stuck.

[@alexdominguez1795]

Wow wondering what's holding it in then. Ill be looking forward to a tear down to see how bad the shaft is stuck to the crank

[@maxwebster7572]

So if you have to pull the powerhead anyway why not start there? The lower unit is trashed, the shaft is trashed, the gearbox is destroyed, the powerhead is a maybe. I give you points for getting it done, the motor is a piece of shit and NOBODY would pay to have this fixed.

[@danielswift1302]

There's a grease fitting in the upper end of shaft on the other side lol. 😂

[@BrandonsGarage]

How do you figure?

[@danielswift1302]

@@BrandonsGarage because mine has one tucked away on the right side riget where the shaft meets the motor.

[@waltermyers913]

What, No blow torch

[@Designandrew]

Jeez dude I had trouble getting the leg off my 55 hp as a 16 yr old but I still managed to get it done without destroying the fucking thing! wtf

[@BrandonsGarage]

Well, keep in mind It was stuck on there when I got it. I never expected to get it off. Exhausting housing was already broken, I gave it ago, and gave up quickly. Sometimes, thats the best method.

[@markrusso6401]

Should have used some 3in1 oil gauze pad and a set of 30 weight ball bearings LMAO. Dam

[@SonofGodly]

Use new blade on sawzall

[@maxwebster7572]

I paid $200 today for one that ran.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Yeah, this wasnt the best buy Ive done. But not the worst.

[@tornadoftworthaintnoff]

I paid 250 and got real lucky. Everything was maintained.

[@redline9579]

Like a bum worst title ever seen