Prop doesn't spin freely

[DonoGrosso]

I just re-installed my outdrive and I thought everything went very well, until I started to adjust the shift cable. The prop doesn't spin freely in Neutral. It locks counterclockwise. Did I screw up installing the outdrive? The little lever is in the shift cam groove and I definitely turned the prop counterclockwise to mate the shaft splines. Does the cable just need further adjustment at the top?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

If you have the shift arm & the shoe mated go through the adjustment process. It's in forward when the shoe is pointed straight ahead. This occurs when the shift arm is pushing aft for forward gear.
The lower shift shaft has a spline that can get to a wrong angle, might be that. When the prop will turn forward and lock in reverse the gearcase is in forward. If that is the case when it's in neutral it is either out of adjusment or you are on the wrong spline. If it freewheels the prop in reverse you are probably on the wrong spline.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

If you have the shift arm & the shoe mated go through the adjustment process. It's in forward when the shoe is pointed straight ahead. This occurs when the shift arm is pushing aft for forward gear.
The lower shift shaft has a spline that can get to a wrong angle, might be that. When the prop will turn forward and lock in reverse the gearcase is in forward. If that is the case when it's in neutral it is either out of adjusment or you are on the wrong spline. If it freewheels the prop in reverse you are probably on the wrong spline.

It spins free to the right and ratchets to the left when in Reverse! What do you mean by on the wrong spline?
Thanks NHGuy

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Your gearhousing is in forward. Maybe. Does the control handle move freely WOT F to WOT R? If it does it could be that the wheel on the upper shift shaft arm has slipped out from between the arms on the shift slide on the end of the lower shift cable. If so there is no connection to pull the arm forward to rotate the shift shaft CCW into N or R. If this is the case you need to slide the outdrive back far enough to reach in and correct it. Control lever in F, and bungee the prop so it is locked CCW.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Does the control handle move freely WOT F to WOT R?

It didn't at first. Then I did the upper adjustment and now it does shift freely F to R all the way.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

It spins free to the right and ratchets to the left when in Reverse!

Sounds like the shift slide, if it were off a spline the control lever would jam when you try to move it.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Your gearhousing is in forward. Maybe. Does the control handle move freely WOT F to WOT R? If it does it could be that the wheel on the upper shift shaft arm has slipped out from between the arms on the shift slide on the end of the lower shift cable. If so there is no connection to pull the arm forward to rotate the shift shaft CCW into N or R. If this is the case you need to slide the outdrive back far enough to reach in and correct it. Control lever in F, and bungee the prop so it is locked CCW.

I just realized, when looking at the front of the outdrive, the part that I think is the upper shift shaft arm is facing right (port), whereas the shift cable is on the starboard side ?? Did I screw up putting the upper and lower gearcases together?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

It didn't at first. Then I did the upper adjustment and now it does shift freely F to R all the way.

Yeah, there are two arms on the shift slide that capture a little wheel on the upper shift shaft arm. Normally the wheel is between the arms and when you shift to F the slide moves back and the front arm pushes the wheel and rotates the ss CW into F, when you shift into N or R the slide moves forward and the back arm pushes the wheel forward rotating the ss CCW into N or R. What I think has happened is that the wheel is behind the rear arm, so that when the shift slide moves back it rotates the ss CW into F, but when the slide moves forward the wheel is behind the arm and does not move. Just need to get the wheel between the arms. Unless of course I am entirely wrong. Good luck.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Yeah, there are two arms on the shift slide that capture a little wheel on the upper shift shaft arm. Normally the wheel is between the arms and when you shift to F the slide moves back and the front arm pushes the wheel and rotates the ss CW into F, when you shift into N or R the slide moves forward and the back arm pushes the wheel forward rotating the ss CCW into N or R. What I think has happened is that the wheel is behind the rear arm, so that when the shift slide moves back it rotates the ss CW into F, but when the slide moves forward the wheel is behind the arm and does not move. Just need to get the wheel between the arms. Unless of course I am entirely wrong. Good luck.

Sorry for the dumb questions, I'm really new. You are talking about in the outdrive right? So if what I think is the upper shift shaft arm is facing port when in F, and my shift cable (the end gadget is the "shift slide?") is on the starboard side, then I probably need to take my outdrive apart and flip that upper shift shaft arm over 180-degrees?
Thanks a ton.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Yes the outdrive, in particular inside of the bellhousing. Here are some illustrations: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...inbr=1595&bnbr=50&bdesc=BELL+HOUSING+ASSEMBLY That shows the bellhousing. The upper ss is #21. On the top of that shaft is a lever here: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=45518A3 that little wheel on the end goes between the two arms on the end of the shift slide:http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm top photo shows how they fit together, second photo shows a good photo of the slide. I think in your case the wheel has slipped out of those two arms on the end and is behind rather than between them. If you pull the outdrive back off it will be clear as mud LOL. My best guess anyway.

One more quick question, did you split the outdrive?

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Yes the outdrive, in particular inside of the bellhousing. Here are some illustrations: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...inbr=1595&bnbr=50&bdesc=BELL+HOUSING+ASSEMBLY That shows the bellhousing. The upper ss is #21. On the top of that shaft is a lever here: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/showSpecialPicture.asp?pn=45518A3 that little wheel on the end goes between the two arms on the end of the shift slide:http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm top photo shows how they fit together, second photo shows a good photo of the slide. I think in your case the wheel has slipped out of those two arms on the end and is behind rather than between them. If you pull the outdrive back off it will be clear as mud LOL. My best guess anyway.

One more quick question, did you split the outdrive?

Yeah I did split the outdrive. That's my question ... I think I have the lever atop the shift shaft flipped 180 degrees (it faces port when in F gear, but the shift shaft is on starboard, as in your illustration link). I think this might make it so the shift shaft would push it back into F, but not pull it back out into N or R. So it sounds like I need to pull the drive, split the drive, flip that little guy over to the starboard side and put er all back together again. Guess it's back to the store for another gasket. Thanks a lot stonyloam.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

I just saw a totally different adjustment procedure on one of the links provided by Stonyloam. Might as well try that first ...

Can anyone tell me for sure which way the lever arm at the top of the shift shaft is supposed to face in Forward gear after you've put the lower and upper units back together?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Yeah that arm may be flipped. Anyway here is how to do it: There are three shift shafts, lower, short splined shaft in gearhousing (lower), intermediate in the driveshaft housing (upper) and upper in bellhousing: To make sure everything is correct, split the drive, turn the lower ss all the way clockwise, turn the prop counterclockwise till it locks and bungee the the prop in place. You are now in forward. Make sure the stainless steel washer is in place on the lower ss. Put it back together with the intermediate ss (long part) pointing straight ahead. Push the control lever all the way to WOT forward. Look into the bellhousing you will see the upper shift shaft with the lever on top, it goes all the way down through the exhaust passage. Make sure the arm on top is pointed to starboard and the wheel is between the shift slide arms (like in mercstuff photo above). The coupler on the bottom of the upper ss should be pointed straight ahead, so that top of the intermediate ss can slide into it when you put the outdrive back on. Get all that right and you should be good to go. Make sure the wheel stays in the shift slide when you put it back together. Should work OK now, I hope. Good luck.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

turn the lower ss all the way clockwise.

I think I'm good on everything except this part ... clockwise when viewed from above is what I did and puts the lever pointed port side. Clockwise when viewed from below puts the lever on starboard side where the shift shaft is. I did the former. I thought it looked weird, but my manual said clockwise and I obviously didn't think it through. :facepalm: Ah well. Thanks for the help stonyloam.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Clockwise from above, and when you put the two haves back together the intermediate shaft slides onto the lower ss and should be pointed straight ahead, to match the bottom of the upper ss.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Yeah that arm may be flipped. Anyway here is how to do it: There are three shift shafts, lower, short splined shaft in gearhousing (lower), intermediate in the driveshaft housing (upper) and upper in bellhousing: To make sure everything is correct, split the drive, turn the lower ss all the way clockwise, turn the prop counterclockwise till it locks and bungee the the prop in place. You are now in forward. Make sure the stainless steel washer is in place on the lower ss. Put it back together with the intermediate ss (long part) pointing straight ahead. Push the control lever all the way to WOT forward. Look into the bellhousing you will see the upper shift shaft with the lever on top, it goes all the way down through the exhaust passage. Make sure the arm on top is pointed to starboard and the wheel is between the shift slide arms (like in mercstuff photo above). The coupler on the bottom of the upper ss should be pointed straight ahead, so that top of the intermediate ss can slide into it when you put the outdrive back on. Get all that right and you should be good to go. Make sure the wheel stays in the shift slide when you put it back together. Should work OK now, I hope. Good luck.

That's gotta be one of the most common used directions on this forum...

Think I wanna save it somewhere so I won't have to type it down the road.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Clockwise from above, and when you put the two haves back together the intermediate shaft slides onto the lower ss and should be pointed straight ahead, to match the bottom of the upper ss.

Then I'm not sure where I went wrong?? I did turn it clockwise from above, which points the shoe/lever/arm thing to the right (port side). This made the lower shaft point straight ahead to match up with everything. I'd really rather not split it again if I don't have to. Reading your directions, I am pretty darn sure I did it correctly.

Is something else going on? Is it still just a matter of getting the shift cable to grab the lever on the shift shaft? Does the shift arm still grab the lever, even though it's mostly on the other side?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Then I'm not sure where I went wrong?? I did turn it clockwise from above, which points the shoe/lever/arm thing to the right (port side). This made the lower shaft point straight ahead to match up with everything. I'd really rather not split it again if I don't have to. Reading your directions, I am pretty darn sure I did it correctly.

Is something else going on? Is it still just a matter of getting the shift cable to grab the lever on the shift shaft? Does the shift arm still grab the lever, even though it's mostly on the other side?

Right is starboard, I do that all the time LOL. the outdrive is off right?. Turn the intermediate shift shaft all the way CW. It points straight ahead and the prop locks CCW.right? Bungee the prop in place and you should be good to go with the outdrive itself. Now the upper shift shaft: study the top photo here: http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm that is exactly what your upper shift shaft should look like (minus the yellow thing) the rectangular metal thing is the shift slide. See how the little wheel on the bottom of the upper shift shaft lever is between the two arms on the slide? That is exactly how yours should look when you put the outdrive back on. That wheel is the connection between the shift cable (via the slide) and the shift shafts which rotate and move the gears in the gearhousing in and out. If all looks right it should go back together correctly.

 

[DonoGrosso]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Right is starboard, I do that all the time LOL. the outdrive is off right?. Turn the intermediate shift shaft all the way CW. It points straight ahead and the prop locks CCW.right? Bungee the prop in place and you should be good to go with the outdrive itself. Now the upper shift shaft: study the top photo here: http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm that is exactly what your upper shift shaft should look like (minus the yellow thing) the rectangular metal thing is the shift slide. See how the little wheel on the bottom of the upper shift shaft lever is between the two arms on the slide? That is exactly how yours should look when you put the outdrive back on. That wheel is the connection between the shift cable (via the slide) and the shift shafts which rotate and move the gears in the gearhousing in and out. If all looks right it should go back together correctly.

Ok. So the little wheel was NOT between the two arms on the shift slide! Whew! At least I know for sure how to put the drive back together now!

The little shoe points forward when prop is locked ccw. It swings toward the port side (which is the left side of the boat, but on your right hand when yer staring at the face of yer outdrive), which seemed weird but whatever.

I hope this clears up the other problem I had ... when I tried to follow the shift adjustment procedure on mercstuff.com I didn't have enough threads for my brass barrel. Hopefully this helps, I was just too excited about finding the wheel/shift slide problem I had to give an update.
Thanks a ton stonyloam!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Prop doesn't spin freely

Ok. So the little wheel was NOT between the two arms on the shift slide! Whew!

toward the port side (which is the left side of the boat, but on your right hand when yer staring at the face of yer outdrive), which seemed weird but whatever.

Whew is right!

One nice thing about port and starboard (same with fore and aft), they are always the same, no matter which way you are looking. Starboard is the right side of the boat looking from the stern to bow. For example looking from the stern the helm is on the right and starboard, looking from the bow the helm is on the left, but it is still on the starboard side that way there is never (make that should never be) any confusion as to which side is which no matter where you are standing or facing. Happy boating