Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

[Rhadley]

I have an Alpha I, 1984 Merc outdrive. Replaced the impeller and trying to re-attach the lower unit.

Boat is shifted full FWD, shift shaft is FWD and engaging the upper shoe. I rotated lower shift shaft CW to FWD and held it with the prop. It goes up in there, and by rotating the prop a bit CCW it seems to engage, but not the last 1/4 inch. I can put on the 2 side nuts. Do I tighten the nuts and pull it on up? Am I simply compressing the pin at the top of the drive shaft?

I don't want to force it if it will damage something.
Thanks.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

no don't force it, Start all over.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

Boat is shifted full FWD, shift shaft is FWD and engaging the upper shoe. I rotated lower shift shaft CW to FWD and held it with the prop. It goes up in there, and by rotating the prop a bit CCW it seems to engage, but not the last 1/4 inch.

That sounds like you are trying to put the outdrive on the boat.

Do I tighten the nuts and pull it on up? Am I simply compressing the pin at the top of the drive shaft?

That sounds like you are trying to put the upper and lower together.

What are you trying to do ????????

 

[ziggy]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

It goes up in there

That sounds like you are trying to put the upper and lower together.

that's what it sounds like to me.
when the two don't mate. my best feeling is that it's the water tube or the water tube guide. my guess is the guide. at least in the times that i get hosed over it. read the manual close, i think it says put the tube guide in the upper, and the water tube in the lower. that has seemed to help me. do 2-4-c them good. patience....... worse comes to worse, it does go together easier with the upper and lower horizonel on the bench.... and ya are supposed to remove the drive for end of year inspection and lubrication...

 

[JustJason]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

did you put an oring on the vertical shaft?

 

[Rhadley]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

I'm mating the lower to the upper, and there is an o-ring on the drive shaft. By drive shaft, I mean the vertical splined shaft that goes way up into the upper unit.

As to the water tube, I have it inserted into the impeller housing and as I mate the lower to the upper, I look up to make sure it is going onto the tube hanging down from the upper.
Do you think the upper tube is not going into the bottom one all the way because it hits something?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

sounds like yer doing what ya can. use the lub. to me it's hit and miss. and i've missed many times too, most painfull. try again. ya will hit it and you will know when ya do.....

 

[achris]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

... and there is an o-ring on the drive shaft. ...

Remove the 'O' ring... It causes more problems than it solves.

Chris.......

 

[Rhadley]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

OK-I took a look at how the upper water tube fits into the impeller housing by taking the old housing and seeing if will slide up all the way onto the upper tube. Seems to hang when the upper tube tries to go into the housing seal. I will try lube on the upper tube. I have the guide tube in the housing.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

If you have a pre-load pin on the drive shaft then YES you will need to take up the slack and compress the pin.Jerry

 

[JustJason]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

and thats why i asked........... get rid of the o ring.

 

[abj87]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

did you read the service manual on how to do it? it tells you which gear it should be in (cant remember which) and to turn the shaft to align the splines.

 

[Rhadley]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

I ended up using the nuts to pull it up the last bit. Maybe it was the o-rings, but since it felt a bit squishy I took the chance and forced it. I think it is good. It shifts OK.

Thanks for the inputs.

 

[achris]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

Pull it apart again and throw the 'O' ring... It fouls on the seal and ends up holding it open... Plenty of water then gets in and rots the splines in the upper drive shaft.... You'll then need to pull the top box apart to replace that one, not to mention all the shimming has to be done again....

Chris...........

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

We don't install that o-ring on my friends drive just did it 2 days ago, came in the kit.

We found we can't seem to get it to hold air with the o-ring installed. It squeezes out.

We decided was not needed and i believe, merc says not to use it anymore.

But we on our own decided not to use it.

 

[achris]

Re: Lower Unit reattach-Last 1/4 inch stuck!

We don't install that o-ring on my friends drive just did it 2 days ago, came in the kit.

We found we can't seem to get it to hold air with the o-ring installed. It squeezes out.

We decided was not needed and i believe, merc says not to use it anymore.

But we on our own decided not to use it.

Replacement driveshafts for the I, R, and MR drives don't even have the groove in them.