96 50 4stroke lower unit `siezed on`

[<Terry George>]

Trying to split lower unit to service water pump etc - all bolts out including hidden one near trim tab. Unit is siezed on on the splines - anyone had any experience and/ or techniques for splitting under such circumstances....
Many thanks
Tery

[<Gary Price>]

First step is to double check all bolts are removed from the casing. You have found the hidden one inside the trim tab. ( I was caught out by that ine for a while). If the lower casing is not seperating at all or only by less than 1mm in one area, there may be another bolt somewhere. If you are sure all the bolts are out then it couldbe corrosion on the dowels. Try waggling the casingg sideways then backwards forwards - keep sqirting release fluid in the gap.

If the lower casing starts to move clear then stop - if so it is probably held by either the gearchange shaft or the drive shaft. There may be a clamp on one of these on your model (more likely the gearchange). Remove the grill on the water intake, sometimes a clamp inside there!
If htis fails you will need the manual to ckeck the removal procedure.

[<Terry George>]

Thanks Gary
Have the workshop manual and it very much looks as though the drive shaft is siezed into the crankshaft; and we are having zero success at present in moving !
Terry