windlass removal

[Slipin Away]

I have a 2006 Hunter 45cc which has a SL spirit atlantic windlass. I need to replace the bearings as they have rusted out. I am having trouble removing the motor gearbox from the holding plate on the deck. The gypsy is off, the split ring that held the bearings are off. There are no ball bearings left. I of course removed the 4 nuts under the deck holding the assembly together. I can get the unit to drop about 2 inches but will not clear any further to remove completely. Is there something I am missing. I have the parts diagram and can not see anything that should prohibit it from being removed

 

[Don Lucas]

The gearbox on mine just slide down after I took the nuts off. Maybe the key is binding it up some.

The outside part is a different story and you have to take it out to press the bearing in/out.

I took mine off this year and it took over an hour of slowly tapping a wedge to lift it up off the deck, then sliding a wallpaper razor knife along the edge to cut the calking the factory applied. I bet they used a tubes worth.

It will come off but takes a combination of muscle, wedges, and a knife to cut the caulk.