drive - top gear installation

I just brought my cobra drive in to have the top gears shimmed and installed. The stub and water pump shaft had snapped. I bought a new shaft and was ready to install it but was told the whole top gears needed to be reshimmed or I would run the risk of blowing these top gears and render my whole drive possibly useless.<br /><br />The repair fella told me he couldn't garantee the work because he didn't have my boat to test the drive (my boat is still snowed in and inaccessable right now). I told him to just shim it correctly and that I would likely bring the boat in when it's milder.<br /><br />Q: How much risk am I running if I don't bring in the boat later to "test" the drive? Couldn't I simply do this "test" myself? I believe he said that all they will be doing is listening to the drive in gear as he moves the power tilt up and down for a growling sound.

Re: drive - top gear installation

Quite a gamble I would say.Obviously he'll do nothing if you do the test run.That's the way most shops are (mine included).<br /><br />Why not let him install it when the good weather gets here,and have the guarantee?<br /><br />DHP

Re: drive - top gear installation

So, just shimming the top bearings following the manual's procedures does not gaurantee a perfect fit and minor adjustments need to be done in the testing phase? ...or is it that testing the drive is to check for any possible mistakes done in the shimming procedure?

Re: drive - top gear installation

i would say that the current clearence needs to be measured and reproduced when its put back toghter.<br /><br />If you change that different parts of the gears will be touching each other makeing the noise<br /><br />tommays

Re: drive - top gear installation

In theory if the job is done right, you have no worries either way.<br /><br />But as a businessman, he has to look out for any possible repercussions. I don't blame him. I'd follow DHP's advise.