Alright, I have a question for an issue I’ve run into a handful of times. I have had about a half dozen situations where when I pull apart one of these gearcases, between ’60-76 for service, I see that the forward gear and or clutch dog is no longer serviceable.

Trying to transplant good parts into it, I have found the forward gear bushing will NOT fit into the gearcase. Now this is not a situation where that little stud is not lined up. It is a situation where that brass bearing that sits over the forward gear is larger in diameter than the recess in the gearcase housing.

I ask this, because I recently pulled a ’69 25hp gearcase, to find it had been updated to the rare 3-lug version, which was in mint condition. Trying to put a 2-lug equivalent in I ran into this same problem – the forward bearing will not sit in correctly. I even put a micrometer on both the old brass bearing and the newer roller bearing and found them to be consistent in diameter. In fact, the older brass one came in slightly SMALLER.

I have transplanted one of the complete 3-lug gearset into a ’67 20hp with no problem. Was hoping to put aside this gearset for a rainy day and personal use.

What info am I missing here in terms of variants of manufacturing years where things were just slightly different? I mean, the 3-lug version has a needle bearing, thrust washer, and roller bearing in lieu of the old brass bearing.

Looking at M.E., they list the 3-lug gearset as an update for all model years, even with the old 18hp motors.