Mercury 135 Blackmax question

[Sceptre20]

I have a 1988 Mercury 135hp that I plan to put on my 20' Seafari.Does anyone have any tips on removing the powerhead? I've removed all of the retaining nuts and linkage but it doesn't want to budge from the midsection.Any tips would be appreciated.
Thankyou

[Bigshrimpin]

I have a system . . . remove the nuts off the studs and leave just 2 nuts on the back. Find a piece of metal stock just wide enough to slide under the studs. Back the nuts off against the metal stock and it'll lift the power . . . combine this with heat (map gas) and worst case heat and air chisel to shake long bolts and vibrate aluminum oxide out. I've done well over 100 powerheads . . . you might have to sacrifice the long studs. I have extra studs if you need them.

[Sceptre20]

Thankyou
I'll give it a try

[Bigshrimpin]

Here's some pics of the process in no particular order.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/album223

Apply pressure, heat, apply more pressure, heat more, if the power head doesn't pop then shake the long studs with an air chisel (you can replace these 4 later). Repeat. If you have some old 9/16" wrenches and a grinder . . . you can trim some meat off the sides and get a full turn on the nuts.

[Sceptre20]

Bigshrimpin.Thankyou for the response,as of yet I haven,t had a chance to try your method,to tied up getting the Sceptre ready,Another week or two and the Sceptre will be in the river and I will be diving into the Seafari project.Another question that you may be able to answer is that the Mercury is a 20" shaft.Is this feasable to use with a bracket or should I be on the lookout for a 25" lower unit with the spacer bracket? Thankyou.

P.S. I recently met your father and he mentioned that he will be keeping his Seawolf in Chatham this summer,I am moored in the Oyster river.Maybe we can grab a beer sometime.