1978 Evinrude 85 HP Lower Unit Service - Fluid and Pump 

Just an update. I went and tore it apart and did it right. Pumps water like a champ. Glad I saw your video before it got out on the lake. Thanks again.

Thanks so much for the quality instructions. I watched quite a few vids about this, and your's was by far the most complete. And your cadence and tone is really the best. I followed this step-by-step the other day when I replaced the impeller on my old 115hp Evinrude. It couldn't have gone any better. I found all of your extra comments on the "how to" and of what to expect to happen extremely helpful, and reassuring. Really the only difficult part was the shift rod. Man, that dude can really test your resolve. But just when I was about to throw the screwdriver into the tall grass, that tapered bolt found it's home. Thanks again!

This is the best water pump video out there, you covered steps NOBODY else does. Now I have to take it back apart and do it over. No mention of the inner o-ring or 4 little tabs. THANK YOU.

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I just got this same motor for my pontoon boat. Your instructions and demonstrations saved me a lot of headaches and curse words.

this was awesome. answered all my questions Thank you for the detailed work. Us noobs appreciate it

Brandon! this info is amazing! really great!

My daughters name is Cadence! I have a 1974 85 HP Johnson that still works and I have done this procedure a few times...great video by the way!

Good info. Gotta tune up my old 77.

Thanks for the video man helped me out a lot!

I'm going to use your tape trick, pure genius, thank you.

Thanks for this video. Gonna do my 1986 Evinrude 50 hp for the first time. :)

Thanks for sharing. I have a 75 Johnson I'm going to work on.

Great video on old 55 hp helped a lot tky

Xlnt video!!! That pump did need to be-rebuilt, and this was a good instruction video of how to do this...

thank your for your knowledge

Bravo....... Thank you very much

Thanks for keeping this video up! I bought an old boat and it was supposed to have just had everything gone through including a new impeller. 1 month into owning it the engine is overheating. I pulled the lower unit using your video as a guide only to find the impeller was not only old, but the wrong fit and was missing the key. Not sure I would have been confident to tackle this without having found your video.

Really good video. I feel like you think we know more than we do. I could have seen you go slower and more detail but overall, a great video

Wish you were rebuilding my boat motors. Like how you clean all the male and female threading bolts. Some way to call it over doing it. I call it doing the job the proper way. Very educational video.

Master of Master thankyou

Love the content

Good video. thanks for sharing. Looks like the shift shaft 3/8 bolt is the biggest PITA of doing the job. I'm thinking, maybe easier to disconnect the shift cable bracket and the throttle lever arm so you can see what you are doing? Very tight in there.

Good vid bud

Good video

any ideas on getting the woodruff key out when it seems to have seized itself in place?

I have a 1977 Evinrude 85hp. What gear oil should I use when I service the lower unit? And is the lower unit removal the same on a 1977 and a 1978? Thanks

There is a somewhat recent builtin that recommends using a rubber glue (3m #847) to fasten the bearing cup so it can't beak free and turn with the impeller. Another video I watched also uses the same glue to hold the outer o ring seal in place while forcing the impeller into the bearing cup

That old gear lube was OK, no water, no need for any reseal job like you say....Thanks for emphasizing thread cleaning and the moly lube on the driveshaft...Don't be afraid to coat the entire shank of the screws, salt water builds up there as well and can seize the hardware just as easily as on the actual threads....Not an issue on this fresh water beauty though...

Brandon!!! I have a small farm and a lot of used equipment (Im poor). With that I watch A LOT of RU-vid and I have subscribed to only 3 channels that I thought did a good enough job of explaining things, and you sir are AWESOME at that. Could you explain how to adjust my throttle and gear shift cables on my 1975 Johnson 85 that you helped me bring back to life..

Sounds good

Hey I have a question about the thrust bearing. How do they go in

Hi there sorry for my questions but just a learning boat and recently just bought the same engine that you’re working on what is the gas oil mix ratio for it.? Thanks....

My motor leaks oil out of the last holes you pointed out? Is that normal?

I have a 1972 65hp Evinrude. I'm replacing the water pump and I noticed it seems like on the bottom plate the old owner maybe modified it and cut a D shape and there is a D shape plastic tube about 4 inches long that goes down by the screens and is attached to the impeller housing. Any idea on why this extra part? I've seen dozens of videos and looked at multiple water pumps and haven't seen anything like it.

brandon i have a 1975 johnson 85 hp i need a lower unit what years are compatible with my motor ? i noticed your motor which is a 1978 has 6 little water holes i believe there called and mine has 3 holes does that matter ? basicaly do you know what years are compatible ?

As i put my new water pump kit i notice in neutral it was hard to turn the propeller after i bolted down the housing. Is that normal

does the boat have to be in a certain gear when removing the lower unit and reattaching the lower unit? Did your driveshaft insert easily into the motor when you reattached the lower unit? I cant get mine in flush!

Is it the same technique for the electronic gear change as have both models one like this the other only has a single link but can't see how to disconnect the gear linkage.

Great video. Don't have to worry about freezing in Southeast Texas. But seriously I'm planning to do a lower end inspection and pump change on a 1982 Johnson 90 V4. I'm figuring it's very close to the 75 you just did.

I sm working on a 1973 115 Johnson. Do you know what gear that engine is in when the shifter rod is up or down?

like your vids. I have a 1979-100hp and your vids are real close to my model. I am having an issue re-inserting the lower unit..... that dang rubber seal of the pump onto the pipe going up is busting my down. the seal ring keeps getting cock-eyed or bound up........ other than that - its a pretty easy lower unit to work with

A beautiful old fresh water engine! But, in this case it is important to install the impeller into the cup before installing the oring seal. Yes a little more difficult, but you are are likely to rip that oring seal out of position lowering the housing and cup down onto the impeller....Was there an oring that goes under the impeller included with the kit?

Buenas disculpe el idioma..soy de ciudad corrientes Argentina..lo felicito por el vídeo muy bueno..tengo un motor igual muy buen motor. Una bestia, acá no lo podemos hacer un mantenimientos como corresponde por los respuesto que no son legítimos..los originales siempre tienen algunas diferencias, los reemplazo no sirven..bueno amigo un gran abraso a la distancias y a disfrutar de su motor y por supuesto la lancha el río y la familia..éxitos!! Siempre!!!

Hey Brandon I've been watching your videos yeah I like the work you do one question the filter screens on the bottom on the water pickup how do you replace them

Do you have a water pump install video on a 73 Johnson 135? And do I need to shift the motor into reverse, neutral, or forward before taking the lower unit off?

Great video, thanks for posting. One question my 1978 85 hp Evinrude had an o ring on the bottom of the impeller. I didn't see you put any on yours. Any comments?

Hello! Brandon! Love your channel. Hoping you could point me in the right direction. I was recently gifted my grandfathers boat after it was used and Maintanance was neglected for many years. I had visible oil leaking between the upper and lower unit, which led me here. It’s a 1978 evinrude 70 model 70873c. I went over this video half a dozen times and then replaced the seals in the lower unit using sierra kit from marine engines. After about 10 hours of use I’m noticing clean greenish oil leaking from the same spot between the upper and lower unit. I know I need to pull it apart again. Any tips on what I should look for? Note: I could not remove the snap rings to get into the gears but the boat shift fine so I thought they would be ok. Note 2: I used permeatex #80062 high tack gasket sealant for most of the sealed parts and I used permatex #80060 super high tack gasket sealant on the exhaust boot and water pump o-ring. Could this be as simple as using the wrong sealants? Or should I be on the lookout for something else? Any tips or advice would be amazing!

Is it the spacer then the bearing or the bearing then the washer then the bearing housing seal

Awesome videos, Thank you, Do you have a shop or do you work from home?

I have the exact same engine and looked at every Evinrude video on RU-vid. This one is the best. None of the others even mentioned the inner exhaust boot and only a few show it. And no one even mentions its purpose. At least this one shows it and demonstrates reinstalling it. When I took my engine apart, there was no boot in place. I looked in my expensive service manual and it was no where to be found, even in the parts breakdown. I found a used one on EBay and it came into today. Brandon, before I put it all back together, can you explain what its purpose is? I have run my engine for years and never knew it was missing.

What size taps do you use for the lower unit and trim tab bolts? Also what were you putting on the lower unit bolts before you reinstalled them?

Good Evening Brandon. The plastic water intake screen on mine is all but gone, is it absolutely necessary to replace it? I notice you were not too concerned about the one on this fix. Great video by the way.

Hi, what is the closest store to Tijuana Mexico for Evinrude parts

When removing the pin is that disconnecting the shift assembly from the upper unit about to help a friend with an impeller in an engine from the 80s and I’m used to working on Yamahas

I think I have big problems the shift shaft bolt must be rung off there is no bolt head there only see like a pin. Is this right and how could I fix to get the lower unit off? I have a 1994 115 hp Evinrude.

Hi I've got this engine and I'm just wondering if there is much I can do for abit more performance, nothing major just tweaks to the carbs ect , any suggestions would be great thanks

whats the screw in the water inlet?

I'm changing pump on 76 Johnson have good nack for most things I'm no mechanic tho so big help

Good video well done... But that bolt at the top looks like a pain.

hello sir I am working on a 1976 evinrude doing the waterpump and I went to Amazon to find the gasket compound you are using but I am unable to find it with your link.. also this pump has a dual tube and looks different then any I have seen.. some help would be great

This is the 3rd impeller replacement on an Evinrude motor youve done on YT and each one was done differently. Can you explain why or help me to determine which one I should follow? Dont get me wrong your videos are very helpful, I am just stumped on a few important steps like what lube goes on the stainless cup?

Thanks for the video, I have a 115hp the same year I just got it and I'm trying to get it going but I can't seem to find the tell tale and when I start it with the muffs and hose attached after it gets warm there is an annoying alarm that goes off I'm going to check the water pump tomorrow but is there anything else I should check as well? Should there not be a tell tale?

Brandon, on mine the prop shaft cant come out, the bearing carrier seems to be fused in place... any ideas? Thanks!

Brandon great Video. I'm trying to replace my original 1985 Johnson V4 140HP water pump. The lower unit is identical to yours but with all the bolts removed, and the Shift pin removed, I can't get the lower unit to drop more then about a 1/2 inch using a screw driver to pry it.? Only thing holding it must be the rubber exhaust boot, or the crank shaft connection up top. Any body have a suggestion how to proceed would be appreciated, I've tried everything I can think of?

ok my kit there's a brown washer black flat washer and round washer? did u use the round washer on the inside of the pump housing one u permatexed in place?

Hi Brandon, I am doing a water pump replacement on a 1989 johnson 70hp vro. What's confusing me is where to put the o-ring. I dont have a groove on the top of my splineshaft, like most driveshafts have, and where you normally put that o-ring. Can I continue the installation without one? I didn't see any o-rings when i removed the old pump either. Fun to see your channel growing. U have top quality content as always. Cheers from scandinavia

I have a question about a 82 evinrude 70

Found you channel. Great vids. I have tried to find on google but maybe I am using the wrong term. Why do some outboards have a large hose(3/8?) Tell tale? Thanks for the info and vids

Do you ever put grease on the driveshaft seal and prop seal to keep them supple and stop the springs rusting? Considering doing it myself

Did I miss the shifter linkage removal?

Hello, new subscriber, when resealing bottom end does the shaft have to come out or can I just pull bottom housing out and do seals? Thnxs you make things so easy. Great video

I'm looking to buy a 1985 Evinrude 90 horsepower engine, the guy was telling me that top cylinders have a hundred PSI and the two bottom cylinders I've almost a hundred Psi 96-97 Psi is that a good compression for the year motor, also he told me that the motor starts and run low idle but when you give it power turns off . He told me to the carburetor needs cleaning but I'm a little hesitant about that . Have you ever had a problem like that with a motor starting running fine but when you give it power turns off

What would you use in lieu of the Evinrude gasket sealing compound?

hello thanks for the vid, do these engines have coolant tell tales? I looked at one the other day and couldn't see a telltale? Thanks.

I think I just found my new best friend! Thanks for this video. I just bought a 1977 85hp (With the little boat it came with). So do you get all your parts from everythingoutboards.com?

Is there a way to contact you? I have a 71 85hp johnson and I'm having issues with it.

Hey man i have this same motor but a 1979 I can't find a temp sensor to save my life any chance you know where to get one

I have a 85hp Johnson don't no the year but think it's in the 70s but are the same doing this work , because I need to do the same on mine

I have a 225 evinrude looper. It starts on land but stalls in water. Can someone help me

If you use petroleum over the o-rings they will stay in place, use it on every o-ring I install on our industrial air compressors

I’m having a problem getting my lower unit back in any tips?

Hi Brandon, I was wondering if you know the best site to sell an OMC seal for a 1978 Johnson Evinrude. 85 HP....I have thought about Ebay or Amazon, but would like to consider other options.. Thanks....

What size taps do we need for the lower unit ?

Why not fill it from the top till it comes out

And another thing...... Some videos say it is a pain in the ass to match up the water pump with the water pipe inside the housing. You do not address any problems in this video. Should I be concerned when reinstalling my lower unit and what can I do to make sure they match up since I cannot see inside there?

I didn’t put the oring under the impeller! 😬 I went step by step and wondered why I had an extra one. Will it be okay without it?!?!?!?!

82 115 Evinrude same here? E115TLCNB

So this isnt like the 1979?

are these metric bolts? m6 m8 etc?

Could have showed the pin

Water pump gasket is on backwards

Not one broken fastener, so lucky.

Hahahah you call everything a trim tab hahaha 🤣

Good video