My lower unit problems and a question

[Mike21xl]

First off, the motor is an 03 225ho, Model E225FHLSTA, Ser. #05018030

Back in Nov. of 05 I wacked a floating log on the Hudson during a tx. which broke a blade off the prop and bent the prop shaft. The insurance co. took care of everything less my $250 deductable which was a rebuilt lower unit.

The summer of 06 I ran the boat pretty much every weekend from April to Nov.(winter sucks). Changed the oil twice through out the year and again when I put her away this past fall,(did I mention winter sucks) oil was normal everytime.

This year started out fine until 2 weeks ago, without any warning I got a bad vibration everytime I put it in gear. Drained the oil, and its loaded up with metal. I don`t have a clue what happened, just that it ain`t good. Haven`t touched anything with the prop that I know of, it looks just like the day it came out of the box.

Called the mechanic that rebuilt it and he can`t look at the boat for three weeks, to busy. So not wanting to have another rebuilt gear case, I started shopping around for a new one which I knew was going to be expensive but I had know idea. Ended up getting a good deal on a new Lightning gear case off an 07 ETEC that had a jet drive put on it from Emberlins.

Everyone I talked to said this thing will bolt up with no problem. Even called C+O and they gave me a thumbs up, was hopin to talk to Rusty but things sounded pretty busy there.

My question is, are there any hidden surprises I should know about when I go to put this thing together? Already have the old one off, just waitin for the new one to get here. Thanks, Mike

[TBirck]

How much ya want for the old one

[Mike21xl]

Hey Tom, not to sure I want to give this one up right now. Might try and get in to it someday to see what happened. Might make a good spare in a pinch.

Mike

[RUSTY63]

If the drive and shift shaft are in the gearcase you need to shift it to neutral (make sure it is in dead neutral) and measure from the flange surface (this is where the gearcase mates to the midsection) of the case to the center of the shift rod hole, it should measure 21-15/16.

Sorry I could not take your call but if you leave me a number I will call you back.

[Mike21xl]

Thanks John, when it gets here I`ll measure it right away. If for some reason it doesn`t, do I use the old one? Thats okay John, I think my question was relayed back to the shop by someone. I`ll remember that in the future.

Mike

[RUSTY63]

If it does not have the shafts in it use your old ones.

[Mike21xl]

Thanks again John, its sopposesd to have the driveshaft and the shift shaft. I`ll let you know when t gets here. Mike

[RUSTY63]

Glad to Help.

[Mike21xl]

Rusty,

My new gearbox was sittin on the deck when I went home for lunch yesterday. It came without the water pump which I knew, but I had ordered a new impeller, so the only thing I had to do was swap my pump over to the new gearbox. Everything went fine, I adjusted the shift rod to the measurement you gave me. The only thing that puzzled me was when I put the muffs on and started it was I didn`t have good water pressure. After runnin for about 30 seconds I goosed the hotfoot and the pressure jumped right up and held with a good stream out the pee hole. She goes in and out of gear nice also. So, I guess I`m all set, we`ll see when I get to the lake Sat. morning.

John, have they changed these lightning gearboxes at all between 03 and 07 and if they did, will there be any performence differances?

Thanks again for your help, you guys are life savers on here.

Mike

[RUSTY63]

That motor holds alot of water when running and it takes it a few seconds to fill up.

There were some internal changes but none that would affect performance.

[Mike21xl]

Hey John, sorry I haven`t got back to you before this. I gave the boat a pretty good workout last weekend and as far as I can tell, everything was great. The motor even seemed to run a lot better, so I`m thinkin this gearbox problem was a few weeks in the making. The only change was water pressure. At an idle I had 8 or 9lbs which has always been the norm, but at WOT(5800) I was gettin about 18lbs. which I thought was a little high. Mike