My new lower unit nut tool in action.

[Rex in OTZ]

Had one the guys at work call in saying the yamaha outboard was not moving water as it should, long story short it munched itself, The guys pulled it off and sent it in to me at the shop, I wanted to see if it was repairable as a new was over $1800 FOB bush alaska.
I tried to back out the retainer nut but it had silt and grit in the threads and a punch just dimpled the castleation
so I built a socket that would back out a nut off a Yamaha 75hp lower unit.
A 2" blackpipe coupler fit just right with some square key stock notched in and zapped with a welder, being the bush I dident have any 2" pipe nipples laying round the right length so bought the only thing in town that fit, the cross handle was off a garage door opener linkage.  

[Rex in OTZ]

More pic's

[Rex in OTZ]

Still more pic's

I managed to file the burrs off the nut flats and get a hand wrench on but had a time of it so used a pair of vice grips so I could use both hands on the input shaft to get it loose.

I painted the tools so they are easy to spot in the brush or if the fall of the dock and different colors belong in different loactions that way they make it back home.

[blind ear]

Rex n OTZ,

 When I clicked on the pictures couldn't see very well. When I clicked on the link on the bottom of the picture then opened it I could tell what was going on.

You need to take up farming.

I had to make some tools , like a 4 1/2 " socket to take the nut out of a combine final drive. Made a castle top on the other end for a cross bar handle.

I hope what you have to work with will hold together when you are through. eddie

[Rex in OTZ]

Where did you think ex-farmers and ranchers went after being evicted?
Been keeping parts of Alaska maintained for the last 21 years.

[blind ear]

Yep, wish I could get my tribe to move in a like dirrection. eddie

[Old Syko]

Believe it or not, I have one of those sockets in my box.     Or at least similar.  The only real difference I can see is that I welded an old 1/2" drive socket to mine so I can use my impact on it.  It comes in handy when reassembling the thing also.   You can't check the oil in any lower unit too much even if it is a pain, but it is sure easier than rebuilding one.  Looks like you got it all under control though.  Good luck! 

[Rex in OTZ]

Having grown up in rural middle west I was forced to find a job not affected/down sized by the 1980's farm economy bottoming out, I went a whole new direction and landed a aircraft maintenance job in Alaska I still do maintenance but dont do planes for a living like I did for 14 years (swing shift is no way to live).
I was one of Nebraska's greatest 1980's exports.
I was 22 and packed all I had in a tool box and 3 duffles headed for Alaska and never looked back.
In the end home is where your nest is I happen to pay over $6 a gallon heating oil, $7 a gallon gas at the pump,$4 doz eggs and $11 a gallon milk, the one thing I can say is work is walking distance of home.