A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

[John3]

For years I?ve had an occasional shift problem, mainly going into reverse. At times reverse would not engage and I would have to jiggle the combination throttle/shift lever to get it fully engaged. The old out-drive finally bought the farm and I replaced it with a used one. Still had the same problem and no amount of, shift cable, adjustment would fix it! As I was lying on my back gazing up with the OD raised, I noticed that the intermediate shift shaft (P/N B-32628), it looks to me like an upside down leg & ?foot? with the toe part pointing forward, was not fully engaged with the upper shift shaft (P/N B-45589A1), it is a long rod with a ?channel? facing down. It appears that the ?channel? is suppose to trap the ?foot? between it?s sides, however after years of wear the ?foot? was slightly below the ?channel? and not really trapped in the ?channel?.
My solution was to attach a small stainless steel hose clamp, tightly, around what I think of as the ?ankle? part of the upside down leg. The hose clamp rests between the Drive Shaft Housing where the intermediate shift shaft passes thru and the ?foot? raising it slightly so that the ?foot? is up, inside the ?channel?.
Thought I?d post this since the problem seemed to occur on 2 old OD?s and most of the affected parts are either hard to find or not available. Not the most elegant solution but it does seems to work, so far.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

Do you have a picture of how they were mating together?

On my old M1 drive the shift shaft foot had widened out causing slop, poor shifting and difficult shift cable adjustment. I removed the shift shaft, tightened up the foot in a vise, until it was a good fit again, and this solved the shifting issues.

By clamping them together, you probably took all the slop out of it.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

Either that or your missing the SS washer that goes on the lower splined shaft to set the height
of the shoe.Other way is to improperly assemble the drive and drive the splined shaft into the case destroying the shift crank.

 

[John3]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive


Hope these pictures help.
They're not in the order I'd like but I don't know how to change that.
The 1st one is with the stainless Hose Clamp in place. The 2nd is of the Channel on the Upper Unit and the 3rd is before attaching the Hose Clamp.
I don't know if you can tell but there is a shoulder just above the Hose Clamp. The Clamp raises the "foot" just enough so that it engages the channel.
John

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

Split the unit and see if the washer is missing.

 

[John3]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

I had it "split" yesterday. There's a washer but it doesn't hold the shaft up enough to engage the channel. That's why I added the hose clamp.
The clamp doesn't add a load to anything. The shift shafts still turn freely and as long as I assemble it properly, it works.
I took it back off this evening so I could take the pictures. I ran it yesterday and this AM with the garden hose attached and it seemed to shift just fine. That's why I posted it. It's a simple fix, not by the book, but it seems to work.
John

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

Hope it shifts as well in the water.A little resistance like water can change the way a drive shifts.Charlie

 

[Don S]

Re: A simple fix to the shift problem on my pre Alpha Out-Drive

I had it "split" yesterday. There's a washer but it doesn't hold the shaft up enough to engage the channel.

That washer has to sit on top of the shift shaft bushing in the drive. A regular washer will fit inside the indent for the seal. You need a washer that is larger in diameter and also thicker than a standard washer.