Has anyone done this? It should be the same for any early generation 6cy Opti's including the 200, 225 and 250 hp motors. I am talking about just changing the electric motor, not the whole lift pump assembly. The motor is bolted to the pump with two allen head bolts/screws. Apparently they are a little hard to remove, especially the back one, but possible, assuming you don't break them off. After that there is a 2 wire (green and blue- green for down and blue for up) power harness that unplugs and the motor has an O-ring seal. So is that all there is to it, or is there a clearance issue getting the lift motor out and in, that would require major work with the large bracket system that mounts the outboard to the transom?????????????
Replacing the lift motor on a 2001 Opti 225.
- Thread starter Rockfish
- Start date
salmonkiller01
Well-Known Member
Yes it is that easy
Thanks salmonkiller01. I did search for and watched that video previously and came to the same conclusion, even though the video does not show them actually removing the pump re: the clearance issue. They only show the lift motor mounted and the motor removed. One would think, however, that if there were a problem with clearance requiring other work to get it out, they would have showed or talked about it. However it is a YouTube video and from experience you can not always count on that. Also that 250 Opti in the Video does look like a newer generation than my225.
One of my buddies did the same job on a slightly older Merc two stroke 200 Saltwater Series motor (a carb model I think, not a direct injected Opti) He said it was *****. In their case, he recalls, they had to hammer (pounding hard) out the large horizontal pivot bolt/s with a very large hammer and a punch in order to drive out the bolts to get clearance to re and re the electric lift motor. Perhaps lucky they did not do any damage to the outboard mount system or the transom. However that is not "apples to apples", and perhaps the Opti is different and easier as the video imply's. However I have some information that indicates clearance may also be an issue with my first generation 2001 225 Opti.
That is why I want to confirm with someone who has done it, that clearance is not an issue to re and re the electric motor.on my 2001 225 Opti lift system. We are considering taking on the job ourselves if it is just the pump motor bolts and no clearance issue which would only cost us a couple of hundred as opposed to a possible couple of thousand if there are clearance issues and we get a good marine mechanic to do it.
I did find some info online by a guy who broke off the back bolt on the pump motor trying to remove it, then had to do the very major job of having to, remove the broken bolt piece, drill and tap etc, Probably had to take the outboard right off the transom and/or split the mounting bracket. If one damaged the pump beyond repair in the process, a new pump costs thousands.
I would think we would have to soak the bolts, try heat, and very carefully and slowly do the alternating tighten, loosen method. The bolts are stainless going into Al alloy and have been in there for 24 years in salt water and air down at the water line.
One of my buddies did the same job on a slightly older Merc two stroke 200 Saltwater Series motor (a carb model I think, not a direct injected Opti) He said it was *****. In their case, he recalls, they had to hammer (pounding hard) out the large horizontal pivot bolt/s with a very large hammer and a punch in order to drive out the bolts to get clearance to re and re the electric lift motor. Perhaps lucky they did not do any damage to the outboard mount system or the transom. However that is not "apples to apples", and perhaps the Opti is different and easier as the video imply's. However I have some information that indicates clearance may also be an issue with my first generation 2001 225 Opti.
That is why I want to confirm with someone who has done it, that clearance is not an issue to re and re the electric motor.on my 2001 225 Opti lift system. We are considering taking on the job ourselves if it is just the pump motor bolts and no clearance issue which would only cost us a couple of hundred as opposed to a possible couple of thousand if there are clearance issues and we get a good marine mechanic to do it.
I did find some info online by a guy who broke off the back bolt on the pump motor trying to remove it, then had to do the very major job of having to, remove the broken bolt piece, drill and tap etc, Probably had to take the outboard right off the transom and/or split the mounting bracket. If one damaged the pump beyond repair in the process, a new pump costs thousands.
I would think we would have to soak the bolts, try heat, and very carefully and slowly do the alternating tighten, loosen method. The bolts are stainless going into Al alloy and have been in there for 24 years in salt water and air down at the water line.
Last edited:
salmonkiller01
Well-Known Member
stainless and aluminum have the ability to almost weld together from the corrosion. If the bolt loosens even a 1/8 turn start using penetrating fluid. Anything helps. May go easy may be a pain.
Good luck and I hope it goes well
Good luck and I hope it goes well
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Stainless bolts break easily.
Deep creep and heat and go real slow...
Deep creep and heat and go real slow...
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