2002 Merc. 50 ELPTO Drive Shaft Removal help!!

[tpw99]

I have removed the pinion gear off the drive shaft but cannot pull the shaft up far enough to remove the forward gear. The shaft will move slightly up & down but the shaft bearing will not fit through the hole on the upper side of the lower unit. The pinion gear and forward gear were both damaged because of lack of gear lube in lower unit but with pinion gear removed the shaft seems to turn smooth so I don't think the bearing is damaged.

 

[Texasmark]

The last time I removed the forward gear, shims, bearing, and shifter cam, I was able to work it out from under the drive shaft with pinion drive attached by getting them on their backs and sliding them out under such. Course it was an I/O and a large gearbox. However, everything is in proportion so I see no reason why you can't fish the things out.

HTH,
Mark