Pulled LU and Bearing Carrier, Drive Shaft Hard To Turn

[hogaboomer]

2001 F50 TLRZ, still wrestling with the lower unit not holding pressure. I'm wondering how hard the drive shaft should be to turn, I can barely turn it by hand with the bearing carrier and drive shaft oil seal housing removed. Does that sound normal? Just wondering if something else is messed up in there.

I've changed out the shift rod seal, and the prop shaft seals, but I didn't do the drive shaft seals, I was hoping they were still good... wrong, I guess.

Maybe the bearing is gummed up, or rusted up from the leak?

[robert graham]

If the leak was saltwater then bearings could be corroded badly…..fresh water maybe not quite as bad….either way, new bearings would be needed….