Which is easier for a one-man install?

[Beefer]

Stupid question... Putting my drive back on. Alpha 1 Gen 1. I have very limited clearance below (landscaping and slope of driveway), and I have bad shoulders. Lifting isn't really an issue, is the pivoting that kills. Anyway, to disassemble, I took the lower off, then the upper. Any disadvantage to putting it back on that way? I think it'll be tons easier.

 

[imraan47]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

if the upper is installed and you want to put on the lower if might be harder as you are working against gravity so you will have to somehow lift it to put the bolts in place.
of course try to rest it on the ground carefully and get the clearance to put it in its place then maybe slide something under the scag so you can put in the bolts.

 

[Dshow]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

I have done it both ways and it was much easier putting it on as one unit. When they are separated, you essentially have to lift the lower, get everything lined up, and the put in the bolts all while holding that weight, PITA. With two boards at the proper height that you can set your outdrive on, it can just slide on into place.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

Assuming your on a trailer, just stack some 2 x 10`s and drive the trailer on them to raise it some.Easiest to install as a unit too.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

Yup, it's a pain to install it in 2 pieces. It's much easier to put the halves together on the work bench then install the whole unit on the boat. I've seen a couple guys post homegrown drive stands that they can just roll up the boat, slide the drive on, then bolt everything together, no lifting required. Raising/lowering the tongue of the boat can help.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

Anyway, to disassemble, I took the lower off, then the upper. Any disadvantage to putting it back on that way? I think it'll be tons easier.

the disadvantage is ya gotta put the lower back on and to do that you have to lift the awkward shape of the lower stright up, align the water tube, shift shaft and then mate to the drive shaft spines. imho. that's a drag.
imho, put the drive back as an assembly. i do the deed by myself. i use a drive stand i built. so no lifting, no anything. i line it up and slide it into place, slowly. this works very well for me.
i think if i had to service just the lower, i'd still take the whole thing off as it's less work than to fight putting the lower back on the upper with it still on the boat.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

Went ahead and put the two together. And like others, I can't get the unit to go in all the way. I have so little ground clearance (with the trailer tongue all the way down), that I have to have the prop off, and it will stand up on it's own with just the shaft inserted some. In some way, that's a good thing, as I don't have to lift it far.

As for getting it in there, the shift shaft and shift shaft coupler are both facing fore/aft (forward), but turning the propshaft has not helped. I turned the flywheel about 1/8 - 1/4 turn, and still no go. What else (if anything)can be hanging it up?

To quell my frustration, I put new boot stripes on.

 

[Dshow]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

Mine would slide in except for the last 1/2" or so... Giggling the drive would get it to go in the rest of the way. Must be an o-ring hanging up?

 

[90stingray]

Re: Which is easier for a one-man install?

If you must install them separately... use a c-clamp to hold the lower while you get the hardware and shifter sorted out. Sure helps me out.