Stuck Driveshaft.

[elgin2]

I have a 18 evinrude, model fd-21r. The lower unit came off with the driveshaft stuck in the powerhead it appears. I have it hanging from the driveshaft in a vise upside-down and spraying kroil down into the shaft- powerhead connection occasionally using a rubber mallet on the mid-section trying to break it loose. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Thanx in advance, Mike.

[joecb]

The option that I always thought to be creative… but the motor has to be runnable. Loosen the powerhead to tower screws and shim one side a bit, like 1/16 ” or so. start the engine. The induced “wiggle’ at the drive shaft joint will work it loose. No personal experience with this , but sure should work.

Joe B

[trex014]

As joe said, if it’s a runable motor that’s not a bad idea to run it with the lower unit loose and it will drop off. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the Chrysler outboard motor books said to do just that. You’d want to disconnect the shift linkage too.

What I use is a slide hammer that has been welded to the adjusting screw of vice grips. Just make sure you grab ABOVE where the seals are and hammer away. Resist the thought to pull directly vertical from the splines, you will ruin a perfectly good driveshaft that way. Using the slide hammer on an angle has never failed me and I’ve had some STUCK ones. You can tap the drive shaft back in a little once it starts moving to help loosen things up.

There are actual slide hammer kits that come with a vice grip attachment but welding one permanently was much cheaper since I already had everything.

[crosbyman]

Now that it soaked a bit have you tried tapping the drive shaft end to break the rust bond in the PH… do not overdo it and use a piece of wood to protect the splines and shaft end

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

[elgin2]

crosbyman wrote:

Now that it soaked a bit have you tried tapping the drive shaft end to break the rust bond in the PH… do not overdo it and use a piece of wood to protect the splines and shaft end

I was going to try that this evening.

[fleetwin]

Please be careful trying to pull the driveshaft down with slide hammer etc…Like Trex says, it is super easy for those vise grips to move destroying splines or seal area. If none of the methods already mentioned help, you may have to pull the powerhead…Prying down on the driveshaft while rapping on the driveshaft near the crank with an air hammer usually frees em up for me…Once it moves a little bit, spray the splines with oil and tap the driveshaft back up into the crank…Keep working it back and forth til it comes out…

[elgin2]

Ok, tapped the driveshaft to try to break rust loose and ran motor for 20 minutes. No luck. A friend has a slide hammer with vise grips. If I can clamp onto shaft an inch above the impeller drive pin I should be safe,correct?? Any other locations recommended from anyone?

[fleetwin]

Well, the location of the impeller pin is up inside the exhaust housing so getting the vice grips on it up there seems tricky. Keep in mind that the vice grips will probably migrate down while using the slide hammer. Be careful…

[joecb]

You say … Ok, tapped the driveshaft to try to break rust loose and ran motor for 20 minutes

Did you have the power head to to tower screws loose, and one side shimmed apart a bit to create “wobble” at the joint? ?

Joe

[elgin2]

joecb wrote:

You say … Ok, tapped the driveshaft to try to break rust loose and ran motor for 20 minutes

Did you have the power head to to tower screws loose, and one side shimmed apart a bit to create “wobble” at the joint? ?

Joe

I knew I forgot a step. I’ll try that this evening.

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