Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

[Mason Sowell]

The 1974 7.5 mercury I purchased had just had the water pump impeller replaced by previous owner, well they got the shifter bevel gears out of time, got that to where the detent tab and shifter moves to reverse neutral forward perfectly. Went to put lower unit back on got the water tube back in water pump tube finally got drive shaft in the crank, but the shifter shaft isn't matting up, had shift lever in forward as well as the lower unit, I moved the gear shift slightly neutral forward neutral forward while applying pressure up on lower unit but it's as if the shafts aren't even touching each other, any ideas? Thanks again

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

I had a 7 1/2 but that was years ago. I think you can look under the carb and see the upper end of the shift shaft. Don't know if it is bracketed to keep it from doing what you are talking about but apparently it isn't. It would seem to me that pushing down on it from the top would solve the problem

I changed the impeller once on mine but that was 20 years ago or so and I don't recall having any issues. Must have been lucky.

Mark

 

[brmurph]

Re: Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

I have a 1968 9.8 that had this issue and found on this forum that the fix was to put the shift lever in forward (and lower unit) and keep upward pressure on the shift lever while still in forward (in my case pushing up). I was amazed how much the shift shaft (or I would actually call it a sleeve in the exaust housing) would move just by applying pressure on the shift lever even though it was already in the forward gear. If someone had not told me about this trick I never would have figured it out. Hopefully yours will work the same way.

 

[S_Laker]

Re: Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

I have a 1968 9.8 that had this issue and found on this forum that the fix was to put the shift lever in forward (and lower unit) and keep upward pressure on the shift lever while still in forward (in my case pushing up). I was amazed how much the shift shaft (or I would actually call it a sleeve in the exaust housing) would move just by applying pressure on the shift lever even though it was already in the forward gear. If someone had not told me about this trick I never would have figured it out. Hopefully yours will work the same way.

All Merc outboards, put them in forward gear before dropping lower unit to do water pump, get it done quick and put it together before someone moves something. Not a big deal, but can be be bad for your blood pressure.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

It sounds like whoever worked on it before must have tried the "easy " way. You are now well on your way to being a confident mechanic for your merc.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

On some of those, the upper shift rod kinda floats in the tube it runs through. You may need to use a pair of needle nose pliers to center it in the tube so that it meets up with the lower shift rod.

 

[Mason Sowell]

Re: Is there an easier way to reinstall lower unit on 7.5 mercury?

On some of those, the upper shift rod kinda floats in the tube it runs through. You may need to use a pair of needle nose pliers to center it in the tube so that it meets up with the lower shift rod.

I tried responding to all earlier or it was last night but I'm guessing I didn't push the right buttons/keys, I tried just about all tips, and still no movement on the lower shaft, wound up pulling power head and pulled upper section of the shift shaft out, in which the lower end of the shaft was male, found out that there's a (reverse cam) in the mid section top socket of this plastic cam had spline the bottom was smooth as if it had been drilled. This item they are referring to as a cam I would call a cupling, part # 65216 acts as a reverse anti kick up, actually locks motor to transom clamp as well as shifts transmission,joints the top shaft to lower, plastic of all materials to make it out of and the trouble one has to go through just to get it out, definitely a learning experience! Pulled what was left of the motor off the transom, put the 1964 6 hp evinerude on and took it to quitman lake, quitman Texas, caught 5 crappie 1 bass, this little motor I'm sure is not to it's optimum performance, would be good for maybe a surf board, or perhaps a R/C model boat, definitely need to get this 7.5 mercury going! I know it's only a horse and a half bigger, but has to be a little faster, thanks to all of y'all! Y'all have a good one,