Re: OMC Lower Unit Sealant and Questions–update and oh no

[raglover]

I finally got out to take a look a my two leaking motors.

First 1959 evinrude lark super quiet model 35 hp
Found the leak and oh no there is a lot of prop shaft play. So much that I can move the shaft side to side and the oil comes gushing out around the seal

Second a 1956 evinrude 30 with a later model lower unit
that has the same prop shaft as later models without the screw on prop nut

It leaks at the back corner between the halves according to bubbles on pressure test. However it has some prop shaft play too, not quite as much but some

So the question is how much is too much on shaft play and what is the main culprit before I go tear into one? The 35 leaked so bad it lost oil and I did not know so I expect carnage although it did not fail in operation.

History
I resealed both these units and did some parts swapping from the donor stack to replace worn bearings and one very worn prop shaft seal area on the 59

but no parts swapping on the later lower unit on the 30, which was pristine when I opened but it had been sloppily resealed at some point by the amount of 847.

In no case did I not swap the whole gear set if I ever swapped gears (cannot remember)

Sampled the other big twin lowers in the shop.

Another 59 I resealed years ago, no prop shaft play
1956 30 I have never touched, no play
1960 gale 25, no play
1957 johnson 35 that had prop shaft and gear set from a later unit swapped in after dog failure—-very minor play

Worn casings? To my knowledge upper and lower halves match and I lapped flat at reseal on glass plate with 400 grit.

Troubled and confused.