Lower unit problem

[Rick Johnston]

I took the lower end in to the have seals replaced. The tech calls and asks if I had dropped the assembly as the housing for the pump was all cracked and he had never seen one that way - unless it was dropped or the motor stored up. Well I said no, it was not dropped. Conclusion was that water must have been present and it froze up and cracked the housing.

I always store the motor down. Also, I bump the motor prior to putting away for the winter.

Must be possible for water to trap in there. Yes? If so, how can you be sure it is out of there?

Same winterizing procedure for over 15 years, now it fails?

Motor is Force 150.

[czy42strokes]

Some water always seems to remain even with the best of intentions. Did you drain and change the lower unit oil prior to storage? Is your boat stored in a private storage shed and with others. I have seen some damage occur from jockying boats around in sheds to make room for others.

[Rick Johnston]

Problem was in the pump housing, not the gear oil side.

[Its possible]

Rick,
Anything is possible. That part isn't that big of a deal and needs to be changed after awhile. I just changed mine in my Mercury and the whole kit with seals, new impeller, etc was $40.

Be sure to lower your motor all the way down before winter storage. Let all the water drain out of the entire lower case. I always quickly fire up the engine at the end of the fogging process without water just to kick the rest of the water out of the impeller casing. Tilt the motor up and down a couple times just to ensure the remaining water has completely escaped from all the nooks and crannies.

[Again]

Yes. If you needed seals, you had water getting into the gear case. It freezes inside the gear case and breaks it. We see a few like this every spring.

[T-Mac]

Yes, some water could have ended up in the pump housing, after you thought you had it all out. A little debris or hardwater buildup can severely slow the total draining of the powerhead...But... it eventually got there. Have seen things stranger....
Bummer!.