mercury 3.0 lower units?

[1980Royalty]

Hey there,
So yesterday i went out and.. blew the lower unit. It's on 02 basscat, with a 02 250 merc pro xb, 3.0 serial number OT430092. I have no clue if I should go the cheap route (saw a couple new for 850ish) or get a direct mercury replacement? Casing is destroyed so im definitely looking new. Also, I have no idea what shaft length I need, and there seems to be two different ratios. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thank you

[NKY TRITON]

I believe that a gen 1 torque master with 1:75 gears. Don will chime in and give you some options. He's going to steer you away from the cheaper aftermarkets though.

Charlie

[1980Royalty]

Thank you charlie! Hopefully don will chime in. At this point im ready to do some upgrades to the lower unit if possible, because I don't plan to sell the boat. Thanks for the info!

[outdoorsman86]

i blew my foot on my xb. i had a tourqe master with a bobs nose cone. contacted insurance and they bought me a mer reman for 2600. them 800 jobs dont hold up.

[1980Royalty]

Wow, thanks. I looked at some of dons older posts and if mine needs a gen 1 torque master im looking 4500-5000 for a new one.. might have to contact the insurance company

[how900]

I have run an SEI unit for about 400 hr so far and it runs like a dream, and the three year warranty seems like a no brainier, ...previously I bought a .."rebuilt" ..gearbox......that didn't work out so well, ...plenty of joes rebuilding thing but not everyone does it well.....just as a side note and I speak from experience,...if you are fitting a new gearbox replace your prop hub at the same time.

[EuropeanAM]

Avoid the aftermarkets- they are a knock-off of the STANDARD 3L gearcase (which was never designed to stand up to the HP this engine produces at the propshaft).

You need a Gen-1 Torquemaster, 1.75 ratio, 20" shaft gearcase.

MERCURY does NOT offer this gearcase in a "reman". Anything you find that is referred to as "reman" in the Gen-1 Torquemaster is being built OUTSIDE the plant/factory.

That being said- there are a FEW that do an excellent job rebuilding these cases. A specific set of High-Perf tools is required (and obviously a very good working knowedlge of how to properly build the gearcase).

You will very likely end up with the LATER style (1-1/4") propshaft if you replace the gearcase, meaning that you will need to replace your prop hub.

BTW... I have a number of usable housings (and shafts), so depending on the condition of your OTHER internals, it MAY be more cost-effective to rebuild what you have (depends on the level of "carnage" that occurred inside the case).

[1980Royalty]

Thank you! Ive got the insurance involved, but if they try to go the cheap route im going to get things done on my own. My ring and or pinion gear has came and made contact with the side of the casing and put a hole in it, making it useless. So I would have to buy a casing and the internals and hope someone knows how to rebuild them properly. Either way looks like im in for a decent bill. Don, if all else fails and nobody around here builds them or can get me a good price on a new one, is that something you would be interested in??

[EuropeanAM]

Absolutely. See Rhonda's post (pinned at the top of the forum) for Parts Department contact info.

[Rick Collis]

PM sent

[mdtritn21]

If you want to go the rebuilt way why not let Don do it since he already has the case and shaft and he'll stand behind his work.

[1980Royalty]

Very good idea. I think if insurance doesn't work with me and take care of it, that I will give European marine a call. Don definitely has the knowledge that I trust, and the guys here in delaware don't exactly have my trust..

[225efi21xd]

I have run an SEI unit for about 400 hr so far and it runs like a dream, and the three year warranty seems like a no brainier, ...previously I bought a .."rebuilt" ..gearbox......that didn't work out so well, ...plenty of joes rebuilding thing but not everyone does it well.....just as a side note and I speak from experience,...if you are fitting a new gearbox replace your prop hub at the same time.

in less than 100hrs I went through 4 SEI lower units. the final straw was broken a propshaft with a $900.00 prop on it. they are crap! I followed the break in on each one and they didn't want to warranty any of them. But since I knew one of their dealer/reps they replaced 3 of them before they said no more! warranty don't mean crap if they wont stand behind their product. failures were input shaft broke, carrier bearings, gears, and propshaft.

[1980Royalty]

Wow! I want to thank all of you guys for your imput. Luckily the insurance company called me today and they are covering 6000 of the $6300 new lower unit! Otherwise don I would have been giving you a call! You guys hav made this process easier and much faster for me and should help get me back on the water. Everything is much appreciated!

[EuropeanAM]

Might still want to visit Rhonda's post (pinned at the top of the forum) and drop her an email to see what your BBC Member price is on that gearcase...

[bass.man65]

$6300 is way to much. Are they giving you the check?

[Todd D]

FYI anyone running or thinking of an SEI case with and for the 3 yr warranty it does not apply to motors 250 HP or larger. No warranty!

[1980Royalty]

Thanks don. They are cutting me a two party check, that must be used local for ghe part and install.. otherwise I would be driving to south carolina lol

[EuropeanAM]

$6300 is way to much. Are they giving you the check?

Actually- that's pretty much "dead on the money"... based on the MSRP price of Part# 8M0072952 + labor to inspect and replace the gearcase assembly.

1980Royalty- glad they're getting you taken care of!

[1980Royalty]

Thanks for all your help!