Help: Fuel Tank or Lower Unit, can't decide

[redemn93]

if you guys go, see if they have a fuel tank thatll fit my boat lol.

[gman 82 aquasport]

If you find one with the general shape you like you can always cut it down to fit your needs. Not as hard as a new build but would serve the purpose

[redemn93]

on an aluminum tank?  or poly?  i know they have tons of each.  just wont be able to make it up there anytime soon.   only 45 minutes from me but im booked for a while with school and think i found bad news with my lower unit...  

may or may not be cracked under the water pump.  pulling it this weekend to find out.  was putting the prop on to go for a first test ride yesterday and found gear oil every where.  went to put some it just to see how low it was.  came out of the water intake.  drained it and was nice and milky.  i was beyond pissed with how much work and time i have into.  just when i think i can see the light...so i might be down for a longer while now.  running out of cash and this wont be cheap.  all i want to do is the summer.  but she looks fantastic.  i cleaned her up and buttoned up the trim pieces.  so pretty sitting there.  im so mad.

sorry for the highjack.  ill go away now.

[seabob4]

Jason...ouch.  You can't run her that way, fry the gear set, which is VERY pricey.  PM Futch here, he may be able to help on a stripped LU...

[redemn93]

that would be great but i dont have the know how or some of the special tools needed to do that job myself.  paying someone wouldnt be an option for a little while.  ill just have to wait.

[gran398]

Hang tight. No probs, only solutions.

Bob is right....PM Futch

[Aquasport Commodore]

There are several lowers for sale around here in south west fl on craigslist. What year, type and hp motor do you have and shaft length?

[redemn93]

well like i said, im not sure that is problem yet.  ill know saturday.  

its a 1989 merc 150.  25".  but it must be a lower unit from a 2.0 merc.  meaning 2.1 gear ratio or else ill have to reprop too.  2.4 and 2.5 lowers are 1.87 ratio.

and thank you guys.  i was so angry and let down yesterday.  

but money is tight.  my wife is 3 months prego with our first kid and i cant wait.  as close as i am and as much as i love this boat and the water, that is 100% priority now.  trying to shovel away money for daycare and insurance.  its not cheap.  thats why im back in school.  i cant provide them the life i want to give without that piece of paper.  although i do the job already.  

ill post up a new thread saturday when i have answers.  sorry for jacking your thread elite.

[Callyb]

I have a 20" LU from a 1984 2.0L. It's yours if you want it, the shipping is on you though.

Let me know if you can't find one for the right price down there. I'll quote a quote for shipping if you want too, just let me know where it needs to go. I get pretty good rates, for example, Southern Ga. to Michigan was $126 for a 200 Merc (400lbs).

The offer is on the table.

[fitz73222]

Before you jump off of the cliff, the driveshaft seals are lightly pressed into the lower water pump housing and can be replaced individually or part of the water pump kit. Bad seals can leak gearlube out of the intake ports like you describe. It would be odd to have a crack in that region unless the gearcase had trapped water in it and froze during the winter and split the case.

[redemn93]

thats what i was going to look into.  when i pulled my water pump apart, the gasket sealing surface on the lower housing was ugly so i got a new one.  it didnt fit.  lower OD was too large to fit in the bore above the driveshaft bearing.  i also noticed there was no seal under the pump housing.  I never had a problem with leaking before and old fluid was clean.  i went to the local marine parts shop and found the right lower pump housing and did some asking around.  apparently the lower unit was changed at some point.  from what im told this is a pre 1984 lower unit?  uses just the oring on the lower pump housing and the seal inside the pump housing.  can anyone verify this?  

callyb.  thats a hell of an offer.  i appreciate it.  but my motor is a 25".  dont know what it takes to swap the driveshaft.  everything ive done so far is new to me as i go along.  my propshaft is twisted a little too but not warped.  it was that way when i bought the motor.  havent had any problems and i know its not uncommon with these mercs.

ill dig into it saturday and post up about it.

edit:  i havent pulled the pump off yet.  when i mentioned i had it apart was to change the pump when reassembling the motor.

[Callyb]

I'm not sure either, I have never converted one.

Either way, I have it and it most likely isn't going anywhere, so it's yours if you decide you want it. Just let me know if you do.

[redemn93]

well i had today off work to go to a funeral up in orlando.  i had a couple hours this morning and went to take a look.  i didnt remove the water pump but suspected it maybe wasnt seated all the way.  i tapped it down with a piece of wood and a mallet and tightened up the nuts some.  filled with fluid. no leaks.  it was just streaming down before.  have it laying slightly to the side.  ill check when i get back tonight.  if no leaks ill install it and run the motor in a bucket and check for water again this weekend.  got my fingers crossed.

[redemn93]

little update.  lower unit seems to be good after tapping down the water pump base and tightening the nuts a little more.  held 10psi for well over an hour.  had 3 psi left after 6 hours.  im satisfied.  unless anyone has an objection.  finals are done after next week.  going out not this weekend but next.  so excited for it.  if i feel comfortable enough with the tests i might make a quick dash out this weekend.  ramp is only 1 mile from me.  we'll see.

[futch13]

 Should be fine holding those pressures