Pre Alpha Mercruiser lower shift shaft removal?

[oldfarmall]

Hello-

I have a pre alpha Mercruiser stern drive unit on a 1974 Glastron boat with a 140hp inboard. I am going through the lower unit to replace all the seals. My shift shaft is corroded and rusty where the shift shaft seal would ride, so it will need to be replaced. I purchased a new shift shaft. Can I simply pull the shaft out and replace it, or do I need to take the carrier assembly for the prop shaft and driveshaft pinion out to remove it? Is there a procedure to pulling it straight out without removing the guts of the lower gearcase? Seems like I am getting resistance when pulling up on it. Thanks!

-Jesse

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you mean the carrier the shift shaft comes out the top. you simply unscrew it and slide it off the shaft

 

[oldfarmall]

If you mean the carrier the shift shaft comes out the top. you simply unscrew it and slide it off the shaft

Hi Bt, thanks for the reply. I am trying to remove the splined shift shaft in the lower unit, it should come out the top of the lower unit, but seems to be getting hung up. This is the vertical splined shaft near the water pump. It is about 9" long. Thanks

 

[nola mike]

Hi Bt, thanks for the reply. I am trying to remove the splined shift shaft in the lower unit, it should come out the top of the lower unit, but seems to be getting hung up. This is the vertical splined shaft near the water pump. It is about 9" long. Thanks

Why are you trying to remove it? If you do then you'll need disassembly. If you're just trying to replace the seal, then like BT says you "simply" unscrew it. Though I doubt it will unscrew without a fight.

 

[kenny nunez]

Do not keep trying to pull the shaft out! There is a small clip and a washer under the bushing, if the clip should break it falls into the lower gear housing and could go through the gears. You need the tool to unscrew the bushing.
sierra #18-9817 shift shaft bushing tool.

 

[oldfarmall]

Do not keep trying to pull the shaft out! There is a small clip and a washer under the bushing, if the clip should break it falls into the lower gear housing and could go through the gears. You need the tool to unscrew the bushing.
sierra #18-9817 shift shaft bushing tool.

Kenny-

I already had the screw in bushing and seal removed, but it doesn't seem to lift out? I can see the washer and clip you are talking about that was under the bushing. Should the shift shaft lift straight out with the screw in bushing removed?

 

[kenny nunez]

Once the bushing is removed the shaft can be pulled out.
If the shift shaft is stainless steel leave it and install the new bushing.
Whenever the shaft is hard to pull out means that the “C” shaped crank that moves the shift spool is slightly bent. This is caused when the lower shift shaft was not aligned with the bronze upper shift shaft when the lower was being raised and forced together with the mounting nuts.