merc A1 installation of lower unit

[sarantis]

Hello everybody,
When pushing the lower unit to meet the upper unit i can't bring face to face the two housings just pushing by hands.A space about 1/2" (i would say about the height of the pin at the top of the drive saft is left.Is this normal?maybe when screwing the nuts of the housing this will come face to face and at the same time the pin will be forced down?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

1) Are you referring to the upper gear housing & the lower gear housing?
2) Not the drive to bell housing?
You should not have to force either one together....
Do not try to get the slack out by tightening the bolts....
You will cause damage....
So is it #1 or #2?..........
​

 

[freelunch]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

The first few times I reassembled my lower and upper units I had this same trouble. Be sure that the shift shaft and the water tubes are aligned properly. Like Haut said tightening without having these two things lining up will create problems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

Ayuh,............

Lower Units tend to just Fall Into Place,....... Once you've got ALL those things lined Up........

I've had Bad Days where you Fight it for an Hour,...... Then the Next Stab,... It's IN.......

Since I started using a Bungee strap from the Cav. Plate, Around the propshaft Once,+ back to the other side of the Plate, to Hold tension of Forward Gear,.......
Life has been Much Simplier...........

 

[sarantis]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

i' m refering to the lower and upper unit of the sterndrive,not to the bell housing.So,you believe that maybe the splines of the shafts that do not engage?What's the role of the pin at the top of the shaft?Since there is a spring bellow it and in the drive shaft shouldn't i feel an obstacle at the end of installing?

 

[sarantis]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

And what is a Bungee strap and what is Cav. Plate ?

 

[Bondo]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

And what is a Bungee strap and what is Cav. Plate ?

A Bungee Strap is a strip of Rubber, with Metal Hooks on the Ends......

Cav-plate = Anti-ventilation Pate,....... The big flat Plate, above the Prop....

Your problem Could be the Splines on the Shaft, or the Shift linkage, or the Waterpipe, or Anything else In there.......

We understand it's Just the Lower Unit........

That Spring just puts Pressure on the Bearings,..... It's a Bearing Pre-load......
I Doubt it's your Problem....

 

[sarantis]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

Thanks BondO. It's already installed.Let God bless it because it was my first contact with such a heavy machine and after two months of rebuilding (sterndrive ,bell-transom housing,power trim,paintings,etc.,it was very abandonned by the previous owner) i feel exhausted!

 

[SuperNova]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

What usually screws ya is the rubber o-ring at the top of the driveshaft-you need to put a little grease on it to help it slide in. If it was a fight--you may have rolled over or torn it, you will leak oil if this is the case. Watch your driveway with the drive tilted up. The oil will run down the leading edge of the skeg and drip off.

--
Stan

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: merc A1 installation of lower unit

Well, Bondo seems to have answered before me....
Good Luck!
If ya have any more problems, I make house calls!..... ​