Alpha one Gen II, shift shaft seal replacement

[Nauti Guy]

I was advised to be "VERY CAREFULL" when replacing the seal on the shift shaft. Is there any special precautions when doing this, or special tools needed. Checked out YouTube, but couldn't find a video on the shift shaft.

 

[Bt Doctur]

You have to remove the shift shaft assembly to do the repair or replacement. You are also removing the shift rod that is connected to the "C" arm .Dislodge that arm and the lower unit must be disassembled to fix it
3B-47 in here http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14b3.pdf

 

[Rick Stephens]

Not different than any other seal. Face the lips/spring at the water side - down. I bought a driver tool, but a 3/8 long bolt and nut would work as well.

 

[Nauti Guy]

Thanks for the info. I didn't see how long the locating pin is that the "C" arm sits on in the sterndrive repair info. to know how much movement it would take to dislodge it, guess I will take extra precautions, all this info. really helps, thanks again!

 

[Bt Doctur]

T
The shift spool should hold it in place as you pull up on the shaft GENTLY .Have the shaft facing fwd as you remove it and install it in the same position

 

[Rick Stephens]

T
The shift spool should hold it in place as you pull up on the shaft GENTLY .Have the shaft facing fwd as you remove it and install it in the same position

You get pics of the most damaged broken parts anyone has anywhere. Good thing you do that for a living or I'd think you drove in rocks every day.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Retired from the phone company but have seen a lot since 1972
Do you remember the "bad vibration" one I got from someplace ?

 

[Bt Doctur]

From a Mercury Black Max at WOT hitting a granite boulder off Staten Island . Everything from the broken crankshaft to the skeg was destroyed

 

[Bt Doctur]

A customer trying to back off a bunk trailer

 

[Bt Doctur]

We also broke this in 2002

 

[Bt Doctur]

How not to launch the boat and then use it for an hour

 

[Bt Doctur]

a bad vibration here

 

[Rick Stephens]

Retired from the phone company but have seen a lot since 1972
Do you remember the "bad vibration" one I got from someplace ?

Yes, the one with 45 foot of nice rope holding the prop on.

 

[JoLin]

I was advised to be "VERY CAREFULL" when replacing the seal on the shift shaft. Is there any special precautions when doing this, or special tools needed. Checked out YouTube, but couldn't find a video on the shift shaft.

I did this 2 months ago on one of my drives. It's pretty easy. For $25 (?) I bought the new housing with seal already installed. Make sure the shaft is facing forward and pull up straight up. Slide the old housing off the shaft, slide the new one on. Slide the shaft straight down into the hole You might have to move it back and forth a little to line up the splines, but do it very gently- no downward pressure. Pull it up a bit, move it a fraction to either side, then lower it again until you feel it seat. Push down and you're done.

My .02