1977 Merc 850 lower unit.

[tallcanadian]

Nope nope nope nope nope. Will not, can't, won't. Nope nope nope. Two hours trying to get that sucker on. Even read Merc850's 30 second guide to easily install your lower unit. What the heck am I missing??? Nope, nada. Aaaaauuurrgghh!!

But seriously, what am I doing wrong? Got the motor just about level. Have the lower unit in neutral. Bring shift shaft in neutral position. Slides on a bit but still have line 1.5" space. Turning motor over with ratchet to get the slimed in driveshaft to line up. I tried even to put the lower unit in gear. Tried everything.

 

[GA_Boater]

Is the water tube hanging up on the port into the water pump?

 

[merc850]

There's a guide tube (Nr. 35) for the watertube that has to be used to insert into the pump housing

check the upper shift and lower splines to see that they aren't hitting - that happened to me when the upper SS twisted, and
also it's easier to keep/find neutral with the control hooked up .

 

[tallcanadian]

It's like a plastic tube inserted into the water pump. The main tune from the engine slides into this, yes?

I will hook the controls up and see what happens. Try again tomorrow. My back is just about broke. Lol. Need to give it a rest.

 

[GA_Boater]

Are putting the water tube in the guide tube in the water pump or putting the water tube in the motor first?

I ask because I saw a worthless Youtube vid with the directions to offer up the lower unit and the water tube was in the pump. Talk about crazy trying to get the driveshaft and water tube both lined up when you can't see anything.

Have a beer and try tomorrow, TC.

 

[Faztbullet]

I install em engine fully trimmed up,controls in forward,lower unit in forward, prop on, slip up and guide water tube in align shift shaft and turn prop....bingo !!! takes about 3 mins.

 

[dwco5051]

I install em engine fully trimmed up,controls in forward,lower unit in forward, prop on, slip up and guide water tube in align shift shaft and turn prop....bingo !!! takes about 3 mins.

What faztbullet says. I owned a 1976 850 for almost thirty years and that was the way I always did it. About a 30 minute job to change the impeller including the time spent looking for sockets I would drop in my course gravel driveway.

 

[tallcanadian]

Are putting the water tube in the guide tube in the water pump or putting the water tube in the motor first?

I ask because I saw a worthless Youtube vid with the directions to offer up the lower unit and the water tube was in the pump. Talk about crazy trying to get the driveshaft and water tube both lined up when you can't see anything.

Have a beer and try tomorrow, TC.

The beer is a definite. Lol. These dang things would drive a fella to drink.
The plastic tube is in the water pump. I am sliding the driveshaft and water tube together at the same time. I can see the water tube going into the guide.

 

[Fed]

At 1.5" I'd say your driveshaft spline is not lining up, talk to it.
For what it's worth I used to keep a bunch of stuff beside me to slip under the skeg so I could have a little rest between bouts, mainly books & old magazines.
Start off with it packed up then when each thing engages slip another 'spacer' under the skeg.
By memory it was driveshaft first then water tube then shiftshaft last.
When you tried in gear did you turn the prop to turn the driveshaft to align with the crankshaft?

Edit: Looks like we cross posted and now it seems you are past the driveshaft & water tube?
1.5" seems a long way to hang up on the shiftshaft but it's been a long time since I've done one.

 

[tallcanadian]

I install em engine fully trimmed up,controls in forward,lower unit in forward, prop on, slip up and guide water tube in align shift shaft and turn prop....bingo !!! takes about 3 mins.

Probably half my prob is I don't have the prop on. I've tried to keep it in neutral and did attemp to do in gear. Sometimes it's best to walk away for a bit. Do a little head scratching. I will try again tomorrow.

 

[tallcanadian]

I'm going to put the prop on tomorrow and try again. The engine is I a stand but I can tilt it up so it's about vertical. I can slide the lower unit on and the driveshaft, water tube and shift shaft all slide in together. I can see the top of the threads on the mounting bolts. So close. I can hold the lower unit in my arm and reach up and slide the shift shaft back and forth a bit trying to get that perfect combination. Try again tomorrow.

Fred, I'm still talking to it. Lol. Not in a good way.

 

[GA_Boater]

Probably half my prob is I don't have the prop on. I've tried to keep it in neutral and did attemp to do in gear. Sometimes it's best to walk away for a bit. Do a little head scratching. I will try again tomorrow.

That gives time for one more beer. Then it slips together and you exclaim "That was easy" LOL

 

[Chris1956]

Sometimes the shift shafts do not line up. Put the plastic shift shaft guide in the midsection, vs leaving it in the gearcase.. It will hold the upper shift shaft rigid, and center it. Sometimes you need to rock the throttle handle in neutral to get 'em to line up. I recommend installing the gearcase in neutral, as it is easier to get correct shiftshaft alignment.

 

[tallcanadian]

So today I spent another couple of hours trying to get that lower unit back in. Still no luck. But I do have a couple of wonders. I had at a point where I could shift it in reverse and the prop would turn in reverse. Then back to neutral, no problem. Put it in forward and lower went into reverse. ?? The picture shows when lower is in neutral.


I have a couple other pics to show. Just making sure all is okay.



I took a little video to see if you can tell what is hitting.
[video]http://vid146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/tallcanadiansboat/iboat%20posts/534C5919-D03C-465E-ABB3-4FFE70B90848_zpsgiaxicfd.mp4[/video]

 

[Chris1956]

OK it looks like the shift shaft guide is installed properly. No nicks on the lower shift rod, right?

Shift shaft turns CCW and will "click" into neutral, after passing thru forward. I would turn it CCW with fingers until she stops and make sure it is in forward. Prop shaft should rachet when turned CW in forward. Now use a cresent wrench to turn it a bit more CCW and it will go into neutral and stay there.

So, shove the driveshaft into the midsection. Turn the flywheel a bit until she mates with the driveshaft. Now use a needle nose plier if necessary, (probably not necessary with guide installed) to line up the shift shaft. when that mates, start wiggling the gearcase side to side, front to back and put the nuts on with your fingers. Tighten them (fingers only) until the gap is closed and then tighten with wrench.

 

[tallcanadian]

Okay. Tomorrow will be a snow day here so I may try it again.

 

[merc850]

The reverse lock cam is not properly aligned, are all the rev lock parts installed?

 

[tallcanadian]

I've never had the lower unit apart. Just pulled off. But yeah, of the diagram is telling that's neutral. In my pic the lower unit is in neutral. Hmmm.

 

[Faztbullet]

If you have power trim you can remove cam and throw it away....

 

[sutor623]

One thing that I love to do with lower unit installs:

I will take a lower unit bolt to the hardware store, and get 2 in the same thread about 6" long.
Next slide the lower unit up until it is 4-5" from being installed. Now thread the 2 bolts in a few turns, one on each side. Then, you can take a rest and let the lower unit hang out on the bolts. Try and slide her up while spinning the prop (or have someone turn the flywheel some), and when you get tired and it dont line up, just let her back down on the two guide bolts.

This has worked for me, saved my back and my sanity!! Once everything lines up and slips on, just put a regular bolt in one of the vacant holes and bolt her up, then take your "guide" bolts off. Presto!