Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1957 Evinrude Big Twin 35 Skeg interferes with gears. › Reply To: 1957 Evinrude Big Twin 35 Skeg interferes with gears.
OK, so you replaced the pinion as well. Did you replace that pinion bearing with all the big needles that fall out? If so, perhaps you did not install the bearing race properly. Are you sure the pinion is the correct part number? So, you can only tighten the skeg screws partially before the unit binds while rotating the driveshaft by hand, correct?
So, I guess there are a few possible issues. Perhaps there is a problem with the pinion/fwd/reverse gear fit/lash. If so, it is best to remove the pinion and reassemble the prop shaft/gears/skeg without the pinion. If this solves the problem, then it would appear there is an issue with pinion/bearing/fit.
If the issue still persists without the pinion, then I would reassemble without the pinion using the old skeg. If the unit rotates freely now, then the replacement skeg you are using isn’t fitting properly. Don’t get confused with numbers you might find on these castings, they are not necessarily part numbers, they might be engineering “casting numbers” which should not be confused without actual part numbers.