OPTIMAX PRO XS LOWER UNIT REMOVAL AND REPLACE 

You can feel the 3 selector positions on the lower by twisting the selector on the lower unit. Just twist it to the position the handle is in then put the lower one I prefer in forward gear

@@BSBASSIN Thanks so much I'll give that a shot. Left it in neutral the first time but will try your method. Thanks again!

What did you do when putting the lower unit back in?

Sure the shifter where it goes onto the lower unit you can turn that lever clockwise and counter clockwise a little that would be forward and reverse then just engage the handle in the boat to forward. If your lower unit is in neutral however if your drivesplines for the lower unit dont match up to the upper you cannot spin the prop to make them line up making it a little harder to reattach the lower to the powerhead. That's why either forward or reverse should be engaged and not changed during removal and reinstallation

I would need a photo to figure out what you are talking about.

Go to 11 minutes 20 seconds and watch from there pause it at 1126 I can see the notch in the video you are talking about

Thanks. Can send a pic if you supply an email address? Either way, two online examples seem to confirm and I will talk to a Merc dealer today if I can. Merry Xmas!

i see you can't get a torque wrench on this anyhow, so I think I know the answer to the question. Thanks.

Sorry I was away for some time. Pretty tight for the bolts that go to the lower

Forward is what most say but it's the same as if you throw it in reverse. If it's in nuetral and the shaft isn't lining up when you spin the prop the shaft won't spin so forward or reverse is better

@@BSBASSIN Thank you! I will give it a go this weekend!

You are correct! And if you dont have any speedometer reading the black tube is pinched or not completely on I did that on mine

Yes I put it in forward before dropping it

@@lunkerdunkerbaits4064 I would have to be there to help it should go up and give it a little shake it should go in.

@@lunkerdunkerbaits4064 sometimes you have to turn the prop shaft a little to get the splines lined up

Should by 95% the same the mercury lower units are very similar. I've done 25, 90, 75,115 and 200hp waterpumps and they are extremely similar to this

Manually spin the gear selector on the lower unit until you find the middle spot. Also spin the input shaft a little while raiding the lower unit. If you put the boat into forward amd the lower unit into forward when you spin the prop shaft the input shaft to the lower unit will spin also and that will help getting everything lined up

The shifter on the lower unit isn’t currently in neutral if I left the motor in neutral? Or are you just saying to verify it?

@@richardsalazar1937 put boat in same gear as motor. Spin prop shaft as lifting unit up into position it should find itself and slide all the way up.

@@BSBASSIN I’ll be working on it when I get off work and If I could message you after work about it

@@BSBASSIN turned the knob on the lower unit and my prop just clicks left and right doesn’t tell me if I’m in reverse or forward

You can put some grease on the 5 bolts that hold the lower unit up to prevent corrosion, , but I do not due to taking it off every season for an impellar ur if I hit something

Jerry Owens I would recommend anti-seize because stainless bolts can and will bind to stainless nuts. Stainless bolts also corrode with aluminium. Both of which can cause seizing between threads, hence why anti-seize is so good. No-one likes tight bolts or worse, broken bolts.

It's fine to do so

But most companies advise against it

No they don't!!! I'm factory Cert Merc tech. This is whats tought in school by Mercury! Great video but cutting into my job. 😢

I'd have to look it up it's been a while

55 ft-lbs

Sorry I do the best I can.

Are these questions for real? Take your outboard motor to cert tech please. Do Not touch your Anodes.