I'll try a different approach to my question. If anyone has a lower shift shaft bushing assembly(p/n 26- 89236 1) handy or has a drive tore down to replace an impeller, could you check and see which way the seal is positioned? Lips (spring side) up or down? Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive, s/n OL733945, 2000 yr drive. Thanks<br /><br />Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive, s/n OL733945. Replacing lower shift shaft seal(p/n 26- 89236 1) in the shift shaft bushing (p/n 23-815921A20). Does anyone know the correct orientation? I noted the orientation of the seal when removed, lips up, rubber washer on top the bushing housing/seal, appears from application to be designed to keep water out of the lower drive via the shift shaft. When looking through manual 14 it doesn't give an orientation, lips up or down (unless I missed something), but on one page, it is called an oil seal. Actually in the manual it states that it is only avalible as part of the shift bushing assembly. Doesn't seem to me that the seal would keep oil in the lower case the way the lips were on my original installation. This is Item 36 on the gear housing (drive shaft) page of the mercury parts express page for my unit. P/N of seal is 26- 89236 1 . It looks from the pic on the parts express page that it is shown lips up also, but it's hard to tell. Thanks in advance
