First time LU install tips, is this Mechanical or hydro: 78 Johnson 115ML78C

[grossgary]

Is mine mechanical or hydro? Shop manual shows two different set ups.
It seems like it's mechanical - it has a shift rod where the hydro pictured in the manual does not, am I looking at that correctly?

Any other tips for a first time used lower unit install?

What equivalent, available sealant can I use for bolts that call for sealant?

Proper grease, marine gear oil, water pump.....
other than that it's get the proper orientation of the shift rod and slide the thing in place...I do have the shop manual and will follow that.

The splines don't have a one-way orientation right, just the splines need to engage, I've read a couple horror stories of snaking the shift rod through the power head...

 

[grossgary]

I'll probably dig into this tomorrow, anyone know how to tell if it's Hydro or Mechanical?

 

[F_R]

It is mechanical shift

 

[jakedaawg]

Its mecanical as fr said. They quit making the dockbusters some years prior. Installation is pretty simple, once you get almost seated rotate dlywheel clockwise and splines will slide togetjer allowing you be fully seated.

 

[jimmbo]

They quit making the dockbusters some years prior.

Mercury made the 'Dockbuster', not OMC

 

[jakedaawg]

Hmm, i get that old stuff confused at times. Was refering to the electric shift ones that start in forward and immediately goto neutral when voltage begins being made.