i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

headows79

Recruit
Joined
May 8, 2010
Messages
3
i was tryin to drain the foot oil on my 1989 125 force motor and took the wrong screw out.i called a boat mechanic and he said $200 to $300 to fix it.i do alot of mechanic work but have never worked on a boat motor.is it hard to do and are there any special tools needed to do the job? i really dont even know what im lookin for to put back in place.......stumped and feel like a dumb ***:confused:
 

Banditz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
168
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

No worries man, its not easy...but can be done in a couple hours. WARNING, do this at your own Risk! If your not handy with your tools, then do not try this! Read, reread, and then decide for your self. I will not be held responsible for your mistake. This is not a easy job to do, but one that is not all that hard either. A typical handy guy can do this without any problems at all.

Step 1...get alot of beer. You will need this along with rags and make sure no kids are within hearshot as to prevent neighbors from thinking badly of you.

Step 2..get the tools out, obvious one.

step 3...you will remove the prop first. Kinda obvious here on what to do.

step 4...there are a couple bolts on the back of the hub that you will remove. Once done you will be able to twist and remove the plate that holds the gears in.

Step 4.5...Put the gear box in forward gear as far as you can.

Step 5...Find something like a jack to support the weight of the foot and put a little pressure on her so she will not fall.

Step 6...for 50hp outboards (I believe yours is the same) There are four to six bolts, remove them carefully! The last will be supporting the weight of the foot and its not light! So make sure you either have help to hold it still, or just make sure its supported well. I'm not responsible for broken toes! Skip the beer at this point...

Step 7...Now that you have the foot down..it will kinda hang about 1-2 inches. There is the shifter linkage right there. Remove the cotter pin and then the actual Pin. Needle nose pliers work well here. Now, that you have done so the foot will easily come all the way off. Just be careful, like I said its heavy.

Step 8...The foot will come out with the axel attached for your fyi. Dont worry, you rok at this point. Now, You will find one nut at the front of the foot that is a 9/16th. Remove it.

Step 9..Remove the plate that was behind the prop, if you havent already. It will twist out. Now, there is another nut in it that needs to be removed. Once done, the lower foot that holds the prop shaft will want to fall down. Let it down carefully.

Step 10...No turning back now! LOL.

Step 11... Once you have the lower foot off you will see gears and carriers and all sorts of things. Dont worry, you will see easily how it goes back in. Unless your not a handy guy at all in which case you should have read the first thing I posted of warning all who are not compentent, to not try this.

Step 12...Remove the prop gears, In the back you will see a little H kinda looking thing...thats your problem. You will also see your piece that the screw went through. Reinstall it with your pin. making sure that its facing forward so that once you reinstall the the assembly, it will work properly. I know this sounds weird, but man...its kinda obvious which way it goes.

Step 13...Now, Drink a beer, but dont take too long. You really wanna try this in one sitting. But your in the back strech so be happy about that!

Step 14...That other piece you found...it actually works the shifter thingy. Once you have put the gears back in thier right place..you will leave the top gear out for now... then you wil see a slot in the shaft. The piece will sit right on top in that spot. Line it up while installing the shaft, you can look through the top of the housing, then slide the shaft in all the way With the gears on it. Put your hand on the back of the shaft to hold the gears in. Now, move the shift rod up and down slowly to see if it changes from forward to reverse. If so, your good. If not, redo it. I know this sounds vague, but you will see what I mean when you actually do this.

Step 15...Now, take the gear and carrier that you left out from the top, and install it. You can do so from the top, just drop and press them right in with your hand. Of course gear side down to mesh with the other gears in the lower foot.

Step 16...Now that your done in there, drink another beer!

Step 17...Now, that thats done, begin the torture test. What you must do is raise the lower foot back up to the foot, and guide the long front bolt, and the short rear bolt into place. Be sure you have the gasket face cleaned up of course...you dont want a leak here! Once you get them lined up and the the nuts started back on, then start slowly turning the axle or prop shaft to make sure the gears are all meshed and in place. This will help you in getting the lower foot, and foot back together. Once meshed tighten the nuts down evenly to bring everything back together. Make sure these are very tight!

Step 18...Now the fun part yet again...You have to make sure you put the foot back on correctly or you will be doin this again. The axle shaft is easy to get in right, but make sure the impeller tube is lined back up correctly or else your motor will over heat. Once you fight all this back to being alomst together, you have to get that frigging shift pin back into its place in the shift rod. its difficult, but not all that bad. Just takes a little time and determination. And luck. LOL. Once its back in make sure to reinstall the cotter pin as well. Then wiggle and otherwise do whatever it takes to raise the foot back onto the out board itself. All the while making perfectly sure that the axle, impeller tube, and shift rod are aligned correctly.

Step 19...Hurry up and get a frigging bolt in fast so you dont have to hold all that weight up! Once started with three to four threads, two bolts will hold the weight of the foot. Drink another beer and have faith..its almost done. tighten the other bolts down tightly, but dont over do it.

Step 20...Reinstall the prop but dont complete it just yet. make sure you CAN NOT turn it without turning over the engine. Then put the shifter in neutral and it should turn freely. Once thats good try reverse. It should not turn at all again. If it does...then you may as well start over. But its very unlikely that if you read these instructions and did as they say, that you will be taking this apart again.

Step 21...Now that you have tested step 20, and have found yourself to be in working order, add the correct amount of oil/lube, and then put some muffs on her.

Step 22...turn on the water and start her up. Slowly move the gear shift into foward and confirm that she spins. Now, slide her into reverse and she will spin the other way. Basically if she goes one way, she must also go the other way. So no real need to check reverse, but hey..I was curious. LOL.

Step 23...Drink rest of beer and pat your self on the back for saving $200-$300 on a minor mistake. Next day when your sober...go to the lake and have some fun!

Step 24...Post up how it has turned out and if any questions PM me and i'll send ya my phone number.

Step 25...Please send $ in a plain white packaging to my addy! LOL Just kidding!


Hope this helps man. Yours may not be exactly like this one, but dude, there all pretty much the same. Good luck!
 

Banditz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
168
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

Damn, that took forever! I should be fishing! Not typeing! LOL:D


Oh yeah, no special tools needed man, just the norm.
 

nathanhooper

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
176
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

Yea.....what he said. Lol. I took my Lu apart and put it back together without any instructions before, and it's not very hard. Just pay close attention to how you take it apart. I might add, unless the bolt was removed all the way, and the link fell completely off, you may not be in bad shape. I removed the bolt before I knew what it was, and felt like an idiot, but the link did not fall off. I know this because it was still conected when I took it apart. Also, the most definite way to tell if it has come apart is if it will not shift from forward to reverse and back again. If it shifts back and forth in different angles then it is more than likely still attached. Something to think about.
 

headows79

Recruit
Joined
May 8, 2010
Messages
3
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

oh it fell off for sure it will not shift at all.so does this make it any harder to do or is it still the same procedure?
 

nathanhooper

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
176
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

No, not any harder. Just the same as he said above. I would buy a seal kit for the Lu while your at it if it has been a while since it's been done. Not too hard to do, and you have it apart anyways. They are not that much and it would give you piece of mind on the water.
 

frasreid

Cadet
Joined
Aug 2, 2009
Messages
14
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

Hi guys

Never had to do this type of job before, however on reading the post it is recomended that you remember what goes where. Just a thought but it may be wise to take some digital photographs before you take it apart.

Cheers
 

Banditz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
168
Re: i took the shift pivot screw out...oh ****

pics may help...but its gonna be a pain to do it inside the case, which is where you would actually need them most. LOL.

No not any harder at all. And most lower units on a foot have a round almost loop persay thats used in a groove to seal it. Now, sometimes this can be reused. Mine was ok. But if it hadnt been, regular ole black pvc glue can be used to help seal it.

may as well just get in there and do it bro..its not hard, and you stated your a mech...if thats true, then you should have no problem at all man.
 
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