Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

[ShaneCarroll]

Ok, so for the past two months (unfortunately work schedule will not allow me a lot of spare time to repair boat), I have been replacing gimbal bearing, u-joints, bellows, etc. I finished installing everything, and I must say that the exhaust tube is 1000 times better than the exhaust bellows.

My only task left is to put the outdrive back on. Everything is lined up, I used the alignment tool, and all seems well. HOWEVER, the outdrive stops about 1 1/2" short of where it needs to be. The bolts come right up to the edge of the hole, but I cannot push it back anymore. The drive shaft is lined up, I guess, as when the boat is in gear I can feel it stop when trying to turn the prop with my hand. I left the boat in forward for the whole process, but after having problems, I tried reverse and neutral.

Now, when I went to take the outdrive off, it was very difficult, and I pretty much had to pry it (very gently, of course) to come off. I have tried putting a 2x4 behind the bell housing to hold it steady, but to no avail. I tried using the trim, but no luck either. The alignment bar went all the way in, I saw the rings in the grease on the end of it, WHAT GIVES?!

I cannot even get the outdrive off anymore to try and realign it or anything. I NEED HELP!! Any advice would be much appreciated.

BTW, if it does not show up in my signature, it is a 1992 Alpha One Gen II.

Thank You

 

[gshldon]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

well i just got doing mine and had the same problem, you need to make sure the oil rings are greased on the shaft, second you need to make sure the drive is in gear and the prop is locked in forward and the lower shift shaft is facing forward, if that is not facing forward then it will not go all the way in, and as long as those are done all it took was a kick and mine slide right in past the o rings.

If you need anything else i will be more then happy to help

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

I appreciate the quick reply. Now, when you say lower shift shaft, do you mean the one right next to the speedometer connector? What o-rings and oil rings are you speaking of? That is good to know, though, I also took a separate 2x4, placed it on the outdrive, and tried lightly tapping it in, but no luck.

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is lubed on there. It can't really be as simple as the lower shift shaft, can it?

Thank You

 

[gshldon]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

mine was. Do you have a manual for the drive?

Here is a link if you dont:
www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14notice.pdf

the section you need is number 2. that will explain everything to you

If you need anything else you can email me if you want

Gary

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Whatever you do DON`T FORCE IT ON,it should push on to within a 1/8 th inch.
control box in fwd
outdrive in fwd
insert drive and if nesessary turn prop ccw to align splines
make sure shift shoe in staright (fwd)
push on

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

If it is not going on without some force, what would be the cause? What would be the consequence of having to use some force? It just sucks that the simplest task has to give me such a migraine! I tried from 7 to 11 last night, and could not get it to budge.

I guess being left-handed has its downsides. We may be very intelligent, but just lack some common sense, as well as coordination.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

If it is not going on without some force, what would be the cause?

Ayuh,.... Something isn't lined up,...
Force it,+ you'll probably Break or Damage whatever isn't lined up...

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Ayuh,.... Something isn't lined up,...
Force it,+ you'll probably Break or Damage whatever isn't lined up...

Boy, that is a priceless assumption!! How long did it take to come up with that??

Just kidding, but do you know what might not be lined up? The shift shaft is good, I can hear the splines on the driveshaft touching the other ones, when you spin the prop, you can hear and feel the "click" as they touch.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

I know but,are you using the alignment bar correctly so it seats fully.
is the shift shoe facing in a straight line to mate with the upper shoe

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

I was told that you put grease on the end of the alignment bar, since nobody said how much, I smeared it on probably half the bar. Now, I put it in, pulled it out, and noticed the three (well, two and a half) rings in the grease from it going in. I will have to try that shift shoe thing, unfortunately, I have to keep the boat at my parent's house, as they have property, and I have two designated parking spots, so no room to store. I will try that, I am just trying to get all the info I can before I try it again.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Grease the end of the alignment bar, last 3-4 inches, stick it all the way in and pull it out without twisting. If it went all the way in you should see the spline marks in the grease from the coupler approx 3 inches.

James

 

[bparsel]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Funny, I'm in the backyard ding mine right now as well havig the same exact problem. Head in o search Iboats and one of the first posts is the same problem. I'm going back out to try some of these suggestions

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Ok, so here I sit, banged up shoulder, cut hand, and sore head. You probably don't want me to go into detail. Let's just say, trying to push that outdrive on, on a rock driveway in flip-flops, not a brilliant move. The only thing that moved was me, busting my @$$ on the rocks and hitting the outdrive on the way down. You would think that 235 pounds might be able to budge it but no.

WHAT DO I DO NOW??!! The bolts are right at the edge of the holes, ready to come out, but they won't. The first thread is literally a half centimeter from being free. The shift shoe is lined up, the prop will not spin ccw with the boat in forward, so I know that it has to be in the splines.

gshldon: Could you elaborate a little more for me when you say, "All it took was a kick?"

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[gshldon]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Ok once i had everything alligned, i just gave the the drive a mule kick and it slide right on, if after a kick or two and it still hasnt gone on, STOP. you have something that is not alligned rightand my guess is gonna be the intermediate shift shaft (from the lower unit). or the shift slide, try turning the the prop cw to maybe get your shift shaft alligned properly,

 

[Glastron_V210]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

I think you must still have a problem with allignment. There is no way around it.

To remove the drive (Assuming hydraulic cyliders disconnected) is to put a 4x4 crossways across the bell housing. Tilt the drive up by hand and the 4x4 is pinched, causing the drive to pop off. This is how you do it if you have a 1975 drive which has never been off and it works great.

The alignment bar must slide in nice and easy. If it doesn't try this:

Insert allignment tool and tap lightly with a hammer all the way around. Does it slide easier now?

Try having a helper raise the rear engine mounts a bit...slide easier?


The best way I've found to install the drive is as follows:do this job is as follows:

1) use 4x4s and 2x4 etc under the skeg to get the drive height correct.

2) Insert the shaft in the gimbal bearing

3) Engage the drive into the mounting studs

4) Have a helper hold the drive. Get underneath and make sure the shift foot is sliding in nicely

5) Easer her in the rest of the way. If it sticks use the prop to rotate splines and it should 'click' in

The touble is, if the shaft doesn't slide in easy, then everytime you trim the drive up/down the shaft will bind and the universals will deflect and scour the transom fitting and bellhousing where the drive bellows seal and then you really have trouble.

So, have a beer and try it again. Go slow. Accept no comprimise (Sp?).

Good Luck,

Chay

 

[Riggy]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

check to see if you have to much grease packed inside . preventing the driveshaft from going in all the way ! or that a bolt on the gimbal housing is bent making it diffucult to slide in .

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Well, no bolts are bent. I already have a 2x4 wedged in the bell housing, trying to hold it steady while I push the drive on. I cannot fit anything between the bell housing and the outdrive, I did get a crowbar, but it started to rip the new gasket. I will try the "kick" tomorrow. Also, for some reason, the wheel on the front of my trailer is HUGE, it is literally twice the size of the normal ones (it was like that when I bought it). I cannot lower it enough to have the outdrive not touch the ground when trimmed all the way down.

I am so ticked off right now!!! What do I do?! I am at the point where I want to pay a mechanic to put it back on. Any takers?

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

I was told that you put grease on the end of the alignment bar, since nobody said how much, I smeared it on probably half the bar. Now, I put it in, pulled it out, and noticed the three (well, two and a half) rings in the grease from it going in. I will have to try that shift shoe thing, unfortunately, I have to keep the boat at my parent's house, as they have property, and I have two designated parking spots, so no room to store. I will try that, I am just trying to get all the info I can before I try it again.

This post leads me to believe you don't have the gimbal brg aligned with the coupler yet. Pull the drive off and follow my earlier directions with the alignment bar.

Alternate not suggested method----the mercruiser kick---- kick the rear of the outdrive upper hsg square in the direction you want it to go in. Front kick with the bottom of your foot, wear real shoes. It may swivel the gimbal brg in its gimbal to line up. I strongly suggest you use the above mentioned pull the drive and use the alignment bar method. If you don't have good engine alignment this method (merc kick) will lead to accellerated engine coupler failure. Don't say I didn't warn you.

James

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Well, no bolts are bent. I already have a 2x4 wedged in the bell housing, trying to hold it steady while I push the drive on. I cannot fit anything between the bell housing and the outdrive, I did get a crowbar, but it started to rip the new gasket. I will try the "kick" tomorrow. Also, for some reason, the wheel on the front of my trailer is HUGE, it is literally twice the size of the normal ones (it was like that when I bought it). I cannot lower it enough to have the outdrive not touch the ground when trimmed all the way down.

I am so ticked off right now!!! What do I do?! I am at the point where I want to pay a mechanic to put it back on. Any takers?

A jack under the back of the trailer or pull the wheels up on blocks will give the clearance you need. The gasket is cheap, pull the drive and do it right.

James

 

[Glastron_V210]

Re: Almost Finished With Re-installing Outdrive, Small Problem

Exactly. i can't imagine doing this job with the drive up at some angle. Pull the wheel off! Whatever it takes.

Chay