which order - lower or upper install first?

[deserttoad]

I've just redone my lower end thanks to all the help found here (saved lots of $$).<br /><br />Now I need to know what is te best/easiest way to get it back together. Should I put the lower and the upper together then on the boat? Or the upper on the boat then the lower?<br /><br />Thanks again!!<br /><br />Desert Toad

 

[txrdb]

Re: which order - lower or upper install first?

I suppose it's your choice. I recently put my outdrive back on in halves, mostly because of weight, and I was working alone. Anyway, should be OK either way. Good Luck. Rich

 

[quick_claude]

Re: which order - lower or upper install first?

I recently replaced the impeller on my 79' MerCrusier I/O. I was having problems re-assembling the uuper and lower unit so I took off the upper unit as well to see what was going on...turned out that the bottom grease seal in the upper unit was bad; not allowing the the gear spline to line up. After I fixed that, I put the two parts back together like this....I put together 2 sawhorse kits from Home Depot. THen I cut a "V" into the edge of a 3'X 3" piece of 1/2" plywood that would fit snug under my antiventilation plate on the lower unit and placed that on the sawhorses. The plywood supported the lower unit so I could put the upper unit back on it. Then I backed my boat up to it. I was able to use the trailer jack for up or down adjustment and could slide the plywood around on the sawhorses for side to side and back and forth adjustment. HEy...it wasn't pretty but it worked.

 

[deserttoad]

Re: which order - lower or upper install first?

I thought either way might work. I've done the water pump before and it's always a little tough to get the drive shaft and the shift shaft lined up right. I like the idea of putting everthing together on the shop bench and sliding the whole unit on the boat.<br /><br />I'll build some sort of holder and get some beer (the smell of a cold beer attracks free labor around here).<br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />Jim