TOPIC: Well... It finally happened.

rushwal wrote: Well, I tapped my first hole today (no comments please).

I pulled out the shift rod seal, expecting to find a squashed donut under it, but this one looks different... or really, really squashed.

Is the seal on the 57 Evinrude shift rod single use?

Trey,

Here is the tool I got from Dan Gano for removing the shift rod seal. Was about $15.00. You use it to both remove and re-insert the seal. Takes about 5 minutes to do both...

Mine needs a little tweaking... the jigsaw I used didn't have a straight blade, so it came out.... trapezoidal. Gotta clean that up a bit and figure out a better way to strap it down to the workbench.

I have three of these setup on my work bench in my basement. Best setup you can work on both sides of the lower unit.
I also store my lower units on them for the winter...

Well, I finally made one of these... I think it's pressure treated. Will that be a problem for short periods of time? I have another 2x6 I can use if I must.

Sanding done after the first application of filler primer. Also took a little time to sand out the steering shaft column.

Mine went in without a problem, but I'm soaking the rust off my shift pivot... the part connected to the shift shaft.

Also got some self etching primer and cleaned up and painted the prop and prop cone.

Also also, sprayed down the steering wheel with some filler primer. Lots of sanding to come.

sorry Trey to keep posting......when replacing the shift shaft bushing....now i been using a drift that Dan showed me 1/4 in with a 5/16 shoulder.........i put the bushing into the freezer for an hr, then reverse my drift and punch the bushing back in with the washer already in place and the new "0" ring inside the bushing..........slick as snot on a door handle............

hey Trey, just sharing somethin i do for the spagetti seal when replacing.......on the lower skeg half, with the seal groove.....i paint a lite coat of permatex gasget sealant in the groove, place the seal in and place a sheet of glass over it,(just so i can see it is sitting exactly how i want it) let it sit over night upside down (3-4 hrs will do).....then after it is set i cut my length, bout 1/64 with a pair of nail clippers...........then on the upper, i paint the entire surface with a thin layer of the same sealant, especially around the bolt holes, just before final asembly.........have yet had any issue.......just me learnin as i go...am sure others have there ways of dealing with it

Yup. The fiber washer was stuck to the bushing and that threw me off. Got it all out now.

Trey, what did you tap..........is that the shift shaft bushing.........
i have not done a '57 but i believe it has the "0" ring plus a fibre washer underneath......
the kits i get for the '56 include the washer, so i been using them.......
yes that "0" ring is a toss away, replace with new........the old one gets hard, and holds that shape.......