Remove sx drive

[Kwas]

Just read in another post that the Clymer may not be the best manual to use but that is what I just bought. I wish to remove the SX drive (1999) to grease the u-joints. I don't know if this has ever been done as I just bought the boat in July.

I just changed the oil in the drive, it had no water or metal shavings. The prop is the original and not beat up to bad so I don't suspect the lower unit was ever abused by hitting something. I have no problems with the drive and there are no noises.

The manual seems pretty straight forward and although I have never removed a sterndrive I am ready to tackle the job. I generally have no problems with mechanical work. How hard of a job might this be? Is it necessary to use the about 6 different greases that the mauale says to use?

So, what kind of trouble might I get into? I have already had the prop off and it comes off without any effort at all.

Thanks, D

 

[Don S]

Re: Remove sx drive

They are kind of heavy and awkward to handle, but very easy to get off.
Remove the aft pin from the trim cylinders. Remove back plastic cover and disconnect shift cable (NOTE: the brass adapter on the shift cable and the small nut must also be removed)
Then remove the 6 nuts and pull the drive off.
Be sure to check the alignment when you have the drive off.

 

[Kwas]

Re: Remove sx drive

OK Don, thanks. What about grease, just use EP Moly on the u-joints and spline?

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Remove sx drive

Mercruiser makes a special grease, I think it is just high end synthetic grease, but was too lazy to research it and it was only like 9 dollars so I just bought a tube.

 

[mkast]

Re: Remove sx drive

I was told Mercruiser found out that Teflon in grease was eating up gimble bearings. They came out this spline grease for the gimble bearing.

 

[Don S]

Re: Remove sx drive

I was told Mercruiser found out that Teflon in grease was eating up gimble bearings. They came out this spline grease for the gimble bearing.

Not exactly, they did find the Teflon in their 2-4-C grease caused the bearings to slide instead of roll. But they came up with a grease called "Ujoint and Gimbal bearing grease" to use on the ujoints and gimbal bearing.
They also have a grease called "Spline Grease" which is used on the splined shaft on the coupler. It's thicker and stickier and stays on the splines better than non spline grease.