I’m trying to change the water pump on my 2004 Mercury
90 hp two stroke and I can’t get the lower unit to drop. I have removed the five bolts and I can’t get any separation. Any ideas? I don’t want to start digging at the seam with a screwdriver if at all possible. Thanks for any tips or tricks.
If it’s anything like my Yamaha, it has 6 bolts. 4 attaching the lower unit to the midsection, 1 holding the trim anode, and then once you drop the anode, there is another bolt on the underside of the cavitation plate, accessible once you remove the trim anode. Again, this is for my Yamaha, not a Merc. It sounds like you have one bolt left.
TRS, I googled it and believe you are correct with the 5 bolts. If there are no other bolts, maybe you could get a block of wood and lay it on top of the cavitation plate and gently tap it with a deadblow hammer? I’d be careful doing that as you wouldn’t want to break the plate.
Not sure abt Mercury, but my Yamaha has one bolt under the trim tab. Remove the tab and look for a bolt inside the case.
Growing old is MANDATORY, Growing up is OPTIONAL!
my 200 opti has 5. two on each side and one under anode disc. i remove one under anode completely. unscrew other four about halfway so they will hold the foot when i breaks loose. i grasp back and front and wiggle. if doesnt come loose i use a rubber mallet and gently wack it a few times. have another small adjustable ready beacause u may have a small tube to unscrew once you slide foot down some. i think its for the speedo, but they dont give you enough slack to take foot all they way off before disconnecting it. again yours may be slightly diff or may not have the tube but i think bolt setup is same.
2005 Ranger Cayman 191
Yes, the 90 only has 5. There is not a 6th under the anode. I’ve beat it to death with a rubber mallet and tried to leverage it apart with a 2 x 4. Nothing. I guess it’s just a matter of force at this point. Maybe some pb blaster shot up around the seam in the water cavity? I’m at a loss. I have the whole family coming into town and I need this boat to be working…Anybody know a mechanic that has some free time this week??
TRS,
make sure the shift shaft is disconnected before you go and give some incouragement to the gear case to come loose. With a Merc put the motor in forward and the shift shaft should be easy to get to.
Carolina Veterans Saltwater Series
www.fishizzletackle.com
shift shaft on the merc isnt “attatched” its a male female spline
5 bolts plus centering pins
pins usually get corrosion on them and thats what “sticks” them together
Probably going to need to get something in the seam and pry carefully. Get something wider than a screwdriver so it won’t dig so much. I’m no mechanic so there might be better tricks, but if the mallet doesn’t do it prying is my next move and has worked.