74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

Help please i just bought a boat with an old maybe 74 merc 1150
it did not cycle water when i bought it so i attempted replace the impeller of coarse, left it in nuetral pulled the drive off replaced the housing and impeller and now the prop spins clockwise with a clicking sound, but not counter clockwise and im still in nuetral, so i figured ill drop the drive again shift into forward rebolt and then shift into nuetral and the prop would spin freely well i was wrong CAN someone please help

Re: i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

Re: i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

Don't sweat it, relax, we all do this. Put the shifter in forward and then use a pair of plyers to turn the shift rod on the lower unit until it is in forward gear. Turn the drive shaft of the L/U clockwise and the prop should rotate clockwise. Rotating the prop clockwise by hand should cause it to ratchet, that is normal.
Once you have it all set up, slide it back in. If the splines on the drive shaft don't line up give it little turn clockwise, (never counter clockwise) until you align the splines then continue and align the shift rod. I'm not sure if yours uses a coupling on a rod or if it is splined at the L/U but you just have to play with it until finally slides in.

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

sorry i dont have a manual yet but the shift rod on the lower unit moves very freely, and im guessing the shift rod on the drive is the steel splined piece about 3/8'' of an inch thick that slides into the stainless tube

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

You are correct, that is the shiftshaft.

BTW - When the prop ratchets in the clockwise direction, the gearcase is in forward. You must have inadvertantly turned the shift shaft during the repair, or the shift cable is out of adjustment.

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

now im really getiing frustrated i took the drive back off played with the shift shaft put in nuetral it freed up the prop, nuetral apparently is a fine line on that shift shaft so i pushed the lever into drive turned the shift shaft one little knock to put it into drive or so i thought and it acted like it was in drive because the prop only spun one way, bolted it tight threw it into netral but it was still in drive figured id try it again this time turning the shift shaft to nuetral and being in nuetral and bolting it. But now the drive wont come offall the bolts are out their is about a 1'' gap, i still see a little bit of threads on the side bolts it wont drop know matter what i do. on the shifter nutral and drive are in forward, and reverse is nuetral, i pryed on I lifted it slammed it down a little,m shifted nothing will take this thing out just aenough so i can turn the shift shaft into nuetral and have the shifter in nuetral?
Please if you have anything i really dont want to break my shift shaft off

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

I'm assuming that you say "drive" you are referring to the lower unit.

Never had a problem taking off the lower unit. Did it today about 4 times. I understand your frustration. Although mines comes from tying to get the lower unit back on.

Just go through the steps.
-First I'd make sure all nuts and bolts are out. I think it should be 5 nuts and 1 bolt
- Try not to pry the unit off, they are machined matched to flush mount. If you can not shake the lower unit lose by hand then there is something wrong.
-Try spinning the flywheel on top and see if the prop spins along with it. Maybe a quick twist of the flywheel will free the lower unit.

GL

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

well ifinally wiggled the l/u free , i spun the shift shaft to nuetral put the lever in nuetral bolted it back up, was still in nuetral so that was good then shifted into drive and that was good then shifted into reverse and the prop spun both ways with a clicking noise so apparently i didnt get it right so im lost on which position i should put the shift shaft
Also a little unsure of the water pipe it just doesnt seem right that the 3/4'' cpvc or whatever tube slides over the top of the copper tube you would think with water flow it would go the other way How would my impeller build up pressuse to pump water to the top of the motor i cant find a schematic online i have all types of o rings but it doesnt seem like anything will seal the two pipes together
for something i thought would take me an hour sure is pissin me off

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

First off, put the connector tube on the water pump with the tapered end of the tube pointing up towards the water tube in the mid section. Some units call for two o-rings on the water pump outlet then the connector tube.

As for shifting and as per the manual, position the shaft so the lower unit is in forward. If you put it in neutral then turn it one more click that will be reverse, if you turn it more it will take you back to forward because its a cam. Once in forward you'll have plenty of slop to play with. With the shift cable disconnected you can freely move the shift arm and line up the splines on the shift connector in the lower unit. Once it is in and lightly bolted up, put your shift cable back on and shift your control first to forward and check the prop, then to neutral and check the prop and finally reverse and check the prop. If reverse is racheting, adjust your cable until reverse is fully engaged. Then repeat your tests to ensure that that forward and neutral are still where they should be.

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

i think i got it according to a boat guy correct me if hes wrong, spin the shift shaft to reverse, put it in reverse gear an bolt it back up, reverse on the prop turns a 1/4 turn left and right and is locked, when i put it in nuetral i get a little ratcheding noise which should be adjusted with the shift cable{I will need a little help with this} and forward the prop spins clockwise and ratchets and the piece of cpvc pipe is just a guide for the copper tube if i missed anything or even if hes correct please respond i cant wait to get this thing up and going

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

Sounds like it's almost there. You can do it in forward, neutral or reverse once you've done it enough time. Now all you have to do is adjust your cable and you'll be good to go. There should be no ratcheting in neutral. The prop should spin freely.

Re: 74 1150merc i replaced the impeller and didnt shift into drive beforehand

thanks for the help now if i could just get the stupid thing started