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I need to replace the foot oil seals on the propeller shaft. The housing just close to the prop has a flange held on by 2 bolts. The motor is a 2002 OT501463. 2 cylinder, oil injection. Do I need a tool to pull the old seals or will I have to remove the two bolts and bring out the prop shaft? I have been a mechanic all my life (mechanical maintenance with Monsanto) replaced seals on pumps and rebuilt (Gould) and mechanical seals. but never replaced a seal on a outboard foot.
Here is a diagram and parts list. Looks like you could pull those seals and replace without removing housing. If you have to remove housing it may take a special wrench to unscrew it. Buy if you have worked on pumps and such I’m sure you can figure out getting the seals out without that.
Mercury Marine 40 HP (2 Cylinder) Gear Housing (Propeller Shaft) (2.00:1 Gear Ratio) Parts
Cray, the bearing carrier on that one doesn't have a spanner nut. The two 'flange bolts' he described tells me he has the seapro model. Drain the lower unit lube, remove the prop, thrust washer and the two bolts. Rotate the "flange" enough to lightly tap on the backside of the the 'ears'. The carrier and propshaft will come out. Remove propshaft and take carrier to the bench for seal replacement. Clean carrier and bore of housing before reassembly.
A word of caution. Have the unit in forward gear and the unit trimmed all the way down. A plunger in the front end of the propshaft will fall out if pointed down. I think that model has a steel ball behind the plunger that will also fall out. No big deal if it does as long as you don't lose it and know to put it back in place. Use a dab of grease in the end of the propshaft to hold plunger in place upon reassembly.
That is what I was looking for. Good thing you told me to tilt prop down, I didn't know that. Just received the seals. Got them off of E Bay much cheaper than a parts supply or dealer. Most of the time a person can explore they way through a job, but to be relatively prepared helps a lot, thanks Sliderman.