Removing an outboard driveshaft 

I learnt a good trick today to undo the pinion nut without the spline nut tool. Put the lower unit back onto the motor and use the flywheel to undo. Worked a treat. The factory already gave you the tool built in 👍🏻.

A million thank you's to Dangar!!! No mechanic will touch my well maintained 120hp 1996 Force. Of all the tutorials I've watched on YouBoob, Dangar's have been THE best. I've gone from being mechanically inclined but clueless about how to diagnose & fix my outboard, to quite proficient. I bet I've saved over $1000 (US) on labor costs thanks to Dangar. Once I'm done dumping money that I don't really have into fixing my outboard, I'll be buying a Dangar shirt to help keep the channel going. Hopefully everyone else who feels the same as me will follow my lead! Thanks Dangar!

Thanks for your help I could not have fixed my Yamaha lower leg with out your videos .thanks bob.

Glad I watched all the way through. Got my foot apart all except the forward gear and bearing now I know-how. Just need to watch more on replacing bearing on foward gear bearing and race.

DEFINITELY useful! I am working on one of these for the first time and your videos on the subject are my service manual!

I have worked as a machinerytechnician for 47 years and my Merc o/b had a little mishap ..prop, bent prop shaft etc, your video was very well done Mercury is built the same way so it gave me a good idea how to take the prop shaft out, Thank you for a good video,, no worries mate ! All the Best to you from Canada !

Thank you for showing the inside I have removed the shift shaft acidentaly and now I know that I have to remove the gearbox and the foward gear to put it again, thanks I love your videos

Thank you! Working on my 2007 F50 Yamaha now due to milky oil in the lower unit. Found that the upper drive shaft seals have failed. I have more confidence with the repair after watching your videos. Thanks again!

I see a lot of BS on RU-vid that makes me leave negative comments. However, after seeing 7 or 8 of your vids, i can say, you're spot on mate. Great, easy to understand instructions and fantastic close ups of the intricate workings and parts of these maintenance issues with outboard motors. I can't really say anything negative whatsoever....nice work. Please keep it up !!!

Just about to replace the shift cam on my 85aet Stu so your videos (yet again) have been a god send. Thanks a million from Scotland.

I dont have a Yamaha but i have a US marine force and this video was helpful in figuring out how to remove the driveshaft. Thank you so much for making this video!

Very good video. Always wondered how those gear boxes come apart. I use to rebuild the old kind that the skeg was screwed on.. seems it was much easier back then.

A picture is worth a thousand words! This video is a million! This is incredibly helpful. Thanks so much.

Nice one Stu I just did the seals on my Johnson 90. I used a pitman arm puller I had for lifting my Jeep and some wire to pull the bearing carrier. Was worth a crack and it worked !

Mate where can I send you a six pack of beers? Legit helped me fix my gear select issue within about five minutes. Absolute legend

Very helpful. Changing an 8hp Yamaha from long to short shaft. Wanted to keep the long shaft gearbox. Thanks.

great video explaining the magic inside the gearbox, really helpful revealing the actual workings

Perfect Stu. That gearbox had a rello of mine stumped and we had it apart in minutes after watching your vid.

Not everybody that watches all videos need to know something specific, sometimes people watch to just have a little adventure in mechanics, and hear you say “ah-lou-mineim”❤

Thanks for the video. It was very exactly what I was looking for. I am taking apart my lower unit on my '61 Merc 700 Full Gear Shift. It's almost exactly the same. Only difference that I saw was that under the water pump, my bearing is a ball bearing type and of course the gear housing cover which is the ring type as opposed to the 2 bolt type you have there. Everything else is pretty much the same exact thing.

Hello there my new friend! I needed to see this disassembled. I was out last weekend and lost my reverse while trailering. (glad it happened at end of weekend) this video helped me make a decision to just get another lower end. I don't have all the tools necessary to get to that last part, the special finger tools I got, but the gear cam to push into reverse is completely free and spins. anyhow, thanks for giving me an eye full. Peace. Alex

That was very informative, thankyou! Was trying to find out how to remove the drive shaft on my Yamaha F60. I somehow managed to completely shear all the teeth off the pinion gear. So far it doesn't look like there is any other damage but a lot of metal debris in the gear box. Hoping I can rebuild it with just a few new parts. Assuming I should inspect and clean all the bearings and flush out the gear box well. Thanks again!

Excellent video Stu. I have a 2001 Mercury 50 hp 4S that's getting a 5" extension kit and I'll need to replace the driveshaft. The Mercury is very similar to the Yamaha. Thanks to the Yamaha - Mercury collaboration.

Thank you! Really educational needed to see hands on dissambly on how to in case these boat motor trany starts doing something weird.

i must congratulate you on your ability to show anybody as ignorant as i am(about outboard boat motors) and help me to somewhat understand how to work on these engines with some success, not only do you make it interesting but actually make me believe that i can possibly be somewhat successful in my endeavor to repair or replace something on an outboard or to go a little further afield, to repair, replace or install different items not only on the motor but the boat itself. Soanyway thank you for sharing this knowledge which is invaluable to myself and i'm sure many others like me that enjoy tinkering but with a goal in sight. I try to contribute $,s when possible and encourage others to do the same if for no other reason, to help with the expense of materials. so thank you very much, it is very much appreciated. Pat(rick) Reimal (usa)

Sincere Thanks, extremely helpful, great teacher on layman's terms. Good Kudos to you.

Thank You Very much I just damaged my lower end on the ever changing California Delta waterway.

Another gratefull DIY Yamaha owner. You vids have been immensely helpful. If you're ever in South Carolina, first round's on me.

First rate, again. Your videos remind me of the mechanic who got me started, he didn't teach so much as just talked to himself while solving problems. As a cruiser, I am used to using whatever is at hand like screwdriver drifts. . Funny how something like a stuck woodruf key, can make a half hour job a half day job. Thanks.

Hello, you commented during the video that you were not sure if the driveshaft removal was really useful! During my attempt to chase down an oil leak in the prop shaft area I ventured into the gear case to examine its condition. My outboard is a Mercury 650 vintage 1965-1968 65 hp. motor. I'm not a mechanic by trade (mostly a plumber) but after watching several of your videos on Utube I thought I think I can do this!. The driveshaft video was particularly helpful, except my driveshaft was really not coming out and the pinion would not drop off easily. I used a 5/16 carriage bolt with the head cut off and split about in half then threaded each half into a coupling with the top bolt locked in by a nut. As I turned the coupling, it pushed up on the drive shaft (after removing the pinon nut) and after some wrenching the driveshaft and top bearing finally came out. The main reason for wanting the driveshaft ,pinion, and forward gear out was to retrieve the cam shift selector that fell into the gear case after the selector rod was accidentally lifted up while replacing the rod seal. There was a sinking feeling when the cam fell into the case and now I had to go after it, but your video was a lifesaver and gave me confidence to try and retrieve it. One thing I would like to ask you is what position should the cam be in when I replace the components? The dog clutch is in the forward gear position so the selector pin in its furthest point. Thank's much! I'll keep watching!!!

Got my Dangar shirt in Stu! Was really cool that it came even cheaper than listed with the US to Aus dollar ratio. Another great video!!!

You are the man!!! Thanks so much for doing these videos, so helpful for a wannabe mechanic with an old motor to work on.

Great video Stu. It's good to know how to tear one of these down in case of bad seals or a bent propshaft. It doesn't seem too bad. I also like that vise grip slide hammer setup. I'm learning lots of great tips from you to help me maintain my Yamaha TXRS 150!

Nice one Stu..and good to see you had the Coops on hand for any flare-ups with the LPG torch. I do the same...

Great show Stu, very informative and topics are explained well. I have only recently purchased a boat with a 2 stroke outboard and your shows have given me the confidence to have a crack at servicing and diagnosing some issues myself. I'm looking at adding some lighting and a electric winch but am waiting for you demos before I begin the modifications. Keep them coming, Cheers Denis

Have to say I agree with most of the guys on here......your videos are really informative !! As a retired Elevator mechanic I'm pretty good with all things electro/mechanical and can diagnose most all.......but your vids really help with the little tricks you almost only learn through experience.......thanks so much, as I'm spending much more time on the water these days and enjoy keeping my Honda 130 and boat running top notch.....OH......, I found my dive card also......from 10th grade in high school.....1970......an old NASDS card......which is now PADI......lol......got back to diving for lobster in the Keys !!!

Working on a 115 evinrude for first time ever in one other than water pump replacement. Your video very similar and helpful

Hi Stu, especially like the scenes around Dangar, Had an uncle and aunt living on Dangar many years ago. Spent a bit of time on the island myself a long time ago. Thanks for the videos, very informative. Bruce. Kempsey NSW

Love the job you do explaining in detail how to fix your own problem thank you

very useful to change the driveshaft from 20 inch to 25 inch with an extension kit. Thanks so much

Really useful video thanks Stu. Helped me for stripping down my Honda BF90 which has just started getting gear selection problems sadly.

Great Video from a master technician.

Another awesome vid mate. I recently drained my gear oil as part of servicing my df50a and it was milky! Couldn’t believe it. Short story is the shop pressure tested it and fitted new oils seals to the prop shaft. I should of done it myself! Keep up the great work. Richy NZ

Thanks for the video! I just got a bass boat for free that is in terrible shape, including the motors entire bottom end off the motor. Basically everything you showed in the video is in pieces in the bottom of the rod locker. I’m not a mechanic and don’t know if I even have all the parts. I’ll be watching more of your videos to see if I can figure it out and what I need

Thanks Stu, these videos are always useful even if it's plainly normal for you. keep it up.

thank you master really the first time i visit you i get more educated thank you thank you thank you

Working on a unit with a lot of rust and corrision. Vice grips didn't work. I used a standard pipe wrench and viola. 20 seconds later the nut was off. Then to deal with the shaft being rusted into place. :-)

Nice, once again a no BS explanation of the workings.

Thanks. Your videos are absolutely great! I'm currently taking apart my own Yamaha 30 hp outboard as it won't go in reverse and I suspect the reverse gear to be in bad shape so this video was really helpful. It would be great with a follow up video showing how to reassemble the lower unit and setting the gear play.

Hi Stu your video left of at the point that I am up to with my Yamaha 90, so I am looking forward to the next video. I need to add an extra shim behind the forward gear because according to the manual, the drive shaft backlash is out of spec according to my measurements, but I didn't use the correct yamaha tool that clamps to the shaft. Also the dog clutch is in a bad way on the reverse side so will change that at the same time. I appreciate the videos - this has been the most relevant for me thanks.

Thank you love your video from Cardinal Ontario Canada on the St Lawrence River.

You can remove that shaft without fighting with the pump keyway right away. I use the key for a stop with a 15 inch adjustable spanner wrench instead of vise grip pliers. After you get the nut off then you can pull everything out and put in a vise for further work such as removing that stuck key and usually a sharp chisel works very well removing the key.

Great video, just wanted to see you remove those bearing races on the forward gear and the engine drive shaft. That is the part that I'm having problems with.

Great video ! You are the best on RU-vid.

No hablo ingles pero me gustan sus videos gracias desde guaymas sonora mexico

Thanks for the videos it has help me get the boat back in the water after discovering 20 odd electrolysis holes in the hull. Merry Xmas to you and yours.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This helped me so much!!!

Very, very helpful. thanks so much!

Enough info to help .cheers

Buddy….you are the best. If you ever find yourself in the beautiful Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada, you will never have to pay for a beer or a feed. And where do I get the t-shirt?

Love the beer drinking while dealing with the woodruff key from hell! If I ever get there, I will bring you a couple of Reposado tequilas as backup. Bearing carrier work begins at 5:40 Thanks Stu!

thank you appreciate the effort you put in making these vids. Very helpful info

Excellent videos! I've watched several of yours lately because my son and I have acquired a 'new to us' Palm Beach with a 70 hp '04 Yamaha. We have the lower unit off now and are waiting on new seals. I had to comment on this video because we had your Woodruff key's other brother from hell. I ended up drilling three small holes and turned a small propane bottle upside down to let liquid propane super chill the key. It tapped right out after the propane bath. Wasn't sure I could apply heat to the shaft.

Thank you for your time.

Yip, thanks. That was a great video - love all your videos. Thanks for sharing.

Just what I was looking for thank you

thanks this is my first time and it did help. but i do wish you could have covered how to remove a driveshaft bearing. 😀

Thank you Dangar, VERY informative video!

Thanks for shearing this i would like to see how to fix the new gears in a 15hp yamaha foot

Excellent! Just seeing it taken apart and the how's and why's is everything! Thanks!

Hi just want to say I really appreciate your help this video was excellent

excellent video, thank you for showing us.

Thanks for the this video it was the bit I was stuck on thank you so much

I use hate power all the time when things get stuck. Oh, heat power. Got it!

Very useful , thank you. From Norway

Very very helpful and informative great videos thank you sir

Have you made the bearing replacement video yet? I did not see it in your video list but you do have a lot to sort through. Thanks for making these! Definitely helped me to inspect the bearings on my main driveshaft. The upper bearing beneath the water pump locked up and tore up the shims, or vice versa. The bearing race came easily out of the housing with the bearing (and is stuck to the bearing), but the housing looks good. Not sure where to go from here now.

Another handy video Stu. I hit a submerged rock and jiggered up the gear box. Going to cost a poultice to repair. is it easy enough to replace all the parts again following reverse procedures. Mine is a Johnson 9.9

Another handy video Stu. I hit a reef with my leg and shattered the whole gear pinions, gunna cost a poultice to repair, is it just as easy to put back together again. Johnson 9.9 '77 seagull.🚣

First of all....Thanks for all the informative videos. You have been instrumental in my confidence to tackle the lower unit in my 1993 Merc 115. The piece that the pinion gear nut screws onto, fell out of the splined cavity that it resides in. The nut is still screwed onto the threaded piece with about a half inch of teeth. Have you seen this before? I assume I am going to have to remove the drive shaft and reinsert it or hopefully not have to replace the entire shaft.

Really good video Sir. Thanks.

I VERY much needed this video! thanks! lmao at the padi card! all good stuff, much appreciated.

Nice work Stu! I somehow missed this one!

As always very good information

Thanks much brother nuff love

Any tips on how to help the pinion gear off if it doesn’t just fall off after removing the nut? Tried a few tugs on the driveshaft but it seems on there pretty tight. 2007 Yamaha F150TXR 4S Appreciate the knowledge you’re sharing!

Great! Still working on getting water at tell tale though, I've change impeller rubber, gear is engaging, tube is connecting on impeller housing , no blockage from housing to tell tale! But still no water coming up!!!

I have a 89' johnson 75hp the prop shaft that will not come out! Have the drive shaft and pinion gear out as well as shift rod after putting it in reverse. Everything is off and is loose just work come out with the forward gear

I have a 1994 Mercury 75 hp 2 stroke 3 cycl. after removing lower unit and replacing the impeller, I couldn't shift. it was stuck in forward, removing lower unit again, I noticed the lowet selector shaft would turn freel, how in both directions. Is it possible that it slipped out of the lower lob, if so, do I have to remove gear box to fix??

Great video! Thanks! The gears on my Suzuki DT65 are broken, so I am trying to replace them myself after watching this video. Do you also have a video or could you explain on how to remove the gear bearings? Many thanks!

The Yamaha finger lol I like that

Thanks man best teacher

great vídeo... so thanks. brazil. Ponta Grossa city.

I have a 2002 yamaha 40hp 2 stroke similar to the one in this video. While removing the shift shaft cover to replace seals, I let the shift shaft rise up from the shift cam. Is there a way of getting the shift shaft and cam back into proper position without removing the lower bearing carrier and propeller shaft? Thanks for any advice! I really enjoy your videos! Thanks!

Very informative. Thanks

Hi thanks for the vid. I'm working on an old Tohatsu 18E 2 stroke. The vise grips and 17mm spanner won't get it on this one. Seems pretty tight. Do you happen to know where I can get the drive shaft adapter and spring loaded socket for the nut here in the US? thanks

Thanks your video helped alot

question: if the drive shaft is stuck in the motor Could removing that nut allow you to have a better chance in some way to unfreeze the shaft to the motor?

Excellent video. Thank you.

Good video. Thanks for your video