i need to swap a housing out on my lower unit so i need to order the tools, what tools are a must and what tools can i get by without? i was looking at a shimming tool and a carrier removal tool, they look like they are a must? what else do i need?

Off the top of my head you need Spanner nut tool, pinion depth tool, the plate that holds down the vertical shaft bearing so you can set the pinion depth and rolling pre-load. the vertical shaft bearing installation/removal tool. lower bearing race driver, upper bearing race driver and a bunch of shims. Also the lash gauge and tab to set the backlash and an inch. lbs torque wrench to set the rolling preload.

You can get away without the carrier removal tool...there's a trick of using your prop, putting some wood or metal behind the prop and tightening the propshaft nut. It will pull the carrier out of the case... It's hard to explain typing but I do it all the time.

I'd suggest getting a hold of a bravo manual, it has the instructions and the special tools needed for each step.

my buddy has all the manuals so i am gonna bug him on those. the local marine shop says 600 to swap the internals, for 600 i will buy the tools and do it myself so i can do it for free next time. if the carrier pulls out like a omc i have a puller tool that will pop it right out. thanks for the reply!

$600 seems way high.

Talk to Brett at PBC or Bill at Midwest Performance

midwest wants 300 which is much better. in my mind if i can spend that 300 and get the tools and do it myself i might choose that route? griff is your wife doing ok after the deal on the river? from where i was at it looked like a very close call.

Good luck getting all of those tools for $300.

ebay some new some used.... even if it is more it is worth it to have

Unless you’re going to be rebuilding lowers all the time. Let a good shop do it. I bought all the tools and rebuild mine every year, since I was breaking them all the time. The true cost for all quality tools new is probably 2K. Maybe under a grand if you search for used. The knowledge to do it properly is the most valuable part. The manual only tells you so much. The rest is experience.

It was a very close call. She is doing fine. We were out the next weekend.

Bill at Midwest is very good and $300 sounds about right. Its about 2-3 hours labor.

i think what i am gonna do is buy the removal tools for now and then either have midwest do it or a friend of a friend has the tools that i can either use or pay him to do it. i will start buying the rest of the tools as i find them on ebay. i will get my money back out of them in a few years.

griff i gotta tell you, seeing that happen was a great reminder of what can happen when you combine speed, booze and water. glad to hear that she is ok.