Lower unit advice

[Hickabilly]

Pretty bummed when I found my lower unit had water in it and cracked in the low temps. It has cracks on both sides and pic shows the worst one. This was especially frustrating after I had the seals replaced in the lower unit this spring. 

Would I be better off finding another lower unit or trying to find another motor?

My motor is a 1986 Johnson VRO 60 HP and seems to run strong. 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[dprice]

There are reman lower units for a much cheaper price than the OEM models  and you can generally have them in 48 hours 

try son sac marine  

and there is a guy with endless knowledge  goes by fishn wrench 

[Hickabilly]

24 minutes ago, dprice said:

There are reman lower units for a much cheaper price than the OEM models  and you can generally have them in 48 hours 

try son sac marine  

and there is a guy with endless knowledge  goes by fishn wrench 

Thanks!

[fishinwrench]

Either you had alot of water in there, or the motor was tilted up for it to split the housing where it did.    

Where it bursted is where your shift rod goes down (not a critical or high torque area)  If it didn't force the bearing carrier outward then that housing can be saved and resealed.  I would have to look at it to be sure though.   

Either way you need to get it torn down and flushed with WD-40 in order to save the shafts, gears, and bearings before they start rusting too bad.  Even if you end up replacing the lower unit you have some parts in there worth salvaging....So you can recover some of the expense.   The prop shaft, driveshaft, gears, ect. are worth quite a bit on the used market.

[Hickabilly]

14 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Either you had alot of water in there, or the motor was tilted up for it to split the housing where it did.    

Where it bursted is where your shift rod goes down (not a critical or high torque area)  If it didn't force the bearing carrier outward then that housing can be saved and resealed.  I would have to look at it to be sure though.   

Either way you need to get it torn down and flushed with WD-40 in order to save the shafts, gears, and bearings before they start rusting too bad.  Even if you end up replacing the lower unit you have some parts in there worth salvaging....So you can recover some of the expense.   The prop shaft, driveshaft, gears, ect. are worth quite a bit on the used market.

Thank you for that info. I got the lower unit pulled today. I showed the pic to my mechanic and he mentioned it was in an odd spot too...

[3-Liter]

Not sure aftermarket company builds lowers for that small a motor.  I may have a used one if you cannot find one locally. 620-421-2935

[Hickabilly]

2 hours ago, 3-Liter said:

Not sure aftermarket company builds lowers for that small a motor.  I may have a used one if you cannot find one locally. 620-421-2935

I hope to have it to my mechanic this week. I will give you a call if I need one. Thanks!

[Hickabilly]

Another thought... Last time I drove it I hit a tree top hard enough to jerk the motor up out of the water. Anyone think that could have caused a crack to both sides of the lower unit?

[dprice]

Adjusters use statistics  that prove  different damages 

probably finance  a new efficient motor for 60.00 a month bud

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Hickabilly said:

Another thought... Last time I drove it I hit a tree top hard enough to jerk the motor up out of the water. Anyone think that could have caused a crack to both sides of the lower unit?

If you look at the crack it curls in towards the rear on both the upper and lower ends, showing pressure from where the cavity is thicker. That is typical of a freeze break.  

If I had to guess I'd say that the motor was in a tilted up (trailering) position and that is where the water was after it seperated from the lube.  

I have seen many cases of impact damage and I've never seen it blow out the sides of the housing without crushing the leading edge badly.