" Bondo,
I can turn the shaft
" Bondo,
I can turn the shaft at top of the lower unit and the prop turns so I'm pretty sure the lower unit isn't siezed. I'm only guessing right now but I'm thinking that when the dealer installed the new engine that they didn't bother to check the impeller. Considering that the engine was 10 or 11 yrs. old at the time I would have replaced the impeller automatically. Not sure but that's my guess.
Not wanting to rebuild the engine and then find lots of other accessories or problems with the lower unit, I kept looking for a solution. I was able to find a rebuilt 1988 engine and a rebuilt 1988 lower unit for $1300.00 plus it came with 3 boxes of extras like gaskets, impeller kit, 2 starters, 2 alternators, etc. All I had to do was drive from Wisconsin to Cape Cod, Mass. to pick it up. Made it roundtrip in 3 days with only one speeding ticket (65 in a 55 mph zone, add $70. to the cost of engine and lower unit). Engine and lower unit was rebuilt by a high school shop teacher and engine was run on test stand. If the snow will only go away in northern Wisconsin I'll be able to install and start chasing the cohos and big brown trout. After thought, once the new engine and lower unit are installed, Ill dig into the other engine (between fishing trips) and rebuild and sell or just part out. "