Folding Lightwin, seized upper driveshaft splines

[fleetwin]

I have never worked on one of these “folders” before, at least not on the gearcase or folding components. I got this 1966 folding lightwin along with some 58 Lightwin parts recently. Seems like most of the parts are there, except for the ignition…. I found that someone was in the middle of trying to remove the powerhead, but looks like the upper driveshaft splines are seized/rusted into the crank. I am curious as to why/how this was discovered. Needless to say, the gearcase would still come off and could be worked on. The seller was very concerned about being “safe”, I left the dough in his mailbox, he left the “stuff” in the yard for me to pick up.
So, I am wondering if there is someway of “releasing” that coupler/upper driveshaft from the exhaust housing so the powerhead can be removed without sawing off the upper driveshaft. I looked at the parts breakdown, but it doesn’t reveal much about how those pieces are retained in the exhaust housing. None of my OMC manuals cover the folding units….Thanks Don

[The Boat House]

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by The Boat House.
• This reply was modified 4 years ago by The Boat House.

[frankr]

I am thinking there is some sort of bushing in the section between the hinge and gearcase, but that’s about all I remember. Too many years, too many tears.

[fleetwin]

Yeah, I remember my buddy’s 69 4hp, it chewed up the splines ever few years….Was too young back then to realize the importance of the oring and moly lube… In this case, the splines didn’t spin out, they are seized. I guess I am wondering what prompted whoever it was to attempt to pull the powerhead only to discover the seized splines, perhaps there was a cooling issue.

I will have to look more closely at the “coupler”, perhaps someone has a shop manual for a folder and can post the instructions….

[Mumbles]

A friend has a stud puller with different size collets which I borrow to remove frozen driveshafts. The collet tightens up on the shaft and the puller itself is just a big slide hammer. I don’t know if a tool like this would work on your folder though.

This Merc 200 had a shaft which would not come out no matter how hard it got pulled on. The fix was cutting a hole in the side with the plasma cutter so I could get the hot wrench in there to cut the shaft. Nothing of any value lost here as the Merc was a donor anyway and only the powerhead was salvageable.

[dave-bernard]

If you are going to make a hole then use a air hammer on the drive shaft. worked for me.

[fleetwin]

dave-bernard wrote:

If you are going to make a hole then use a air hammer on the drive shaft. worked for me.

Yes, I have had good luck with the air hammer as well…

[stanley]

Remove the pin and the upper drive shaft will pull up with power head.

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Mumbles.

[dave-bernard]

after the powerhead is removed with the shaft ,now is the time to use the air hammer

[fleetwin]

stanley wrote:

Remove the pin and the upper drive shaft will pull up with power head.

• This reply was modified 4 years ago by Mumbles.

Thanks Stanley, that is great news!

[Author]

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