Lower unit drive shaft fits in
Lower unit drive shaft fits in a gear in the upper unit with an O ring on the shaft and a neopreme like seal that has a spring in it just below the gear that the lower unit drive shaft goes into. That neopreme seal and spring jumped out when I was reassembling the unit. I took it to a shop and he told me that grease on the shaft spline and staying out of salt water would save tearing into the upper unit and replacing that seal. His argument was that the seal simply keeps the grease that is on the shaft and recipient gear in place and those do not wear but simply provide a fit together so the seal is not even found in most he tears down from this freshwater lake.
Need the seal or not?
Lower unit drive shaft fits in a gear in the upper unit with an O ring on the shaft and a neopreme like seal that has a spring in it just below the gear that the lower unit drive shaft goes into. That neopreme seal and spring jumped out when I was reassembling the unit. I took it to a shop and he told me that grease on the shaft spline and staying out of salt water would save tearing into the upper unit and replacing that seal. His argument was that the seal simply keeps the grease that is on the shaft and recipient gear in place and those do not wear but simply provide a fit together so the seal is not even found in most he tears down from this freshwater lake.
Need the seal or not?