72 mercrusier 165 hp, I drive, upper shift shaft ?

[ziggy]

Hi all, i'm haveing a hard time getting my lower gear assy. on after impeller replacement. i've determined that the upper shift shaft is what is preventing me from going together. when bolting up it distorts the washer on top of the lower shift shaft. something is binding in the upper shaft. the upper shaft will drop about 3/4" and has about a 20 degree arc which i feel is not correct. as i'm bolting up it seems that the upper shift shaft gets off center and hangs up on something inside the drive shaft assy. preventing me from bolting up. it's not that i cant hit the splines between the shift shaft and the upper shift shaft. that i got. also the remote is in forward, the gear assy. is in forward. what's up with my upper shaft? is it really suppose to drop 3/4" stright down and be able to move in a 20 degree arc. it also spins freely 360 degees. but feel that i have it (the upper shift shaft) in the proper position as when the remote is shifted back to N it moves in the proper direction to move the gear houseing shift shaft the right way for it to be in N. thanks for any help. jim

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 72 mercrusier 165 hp, I drive, upper shift shaft ?

Zig.... not sure about the part names you are using.Is upper shift shaft a brass piece?Is upper drive still attached to the boat?<br />If yes to both,with the lower unit (gear assembly)off,push the brass piece up,and find the "shoe" it fits into...put heavy grease between them,push the brass piece up into the shoe,let the grease hold it in place,put the lower unit on,making sure lower unit and remote control are both in forward.<br />DHP<br />PS hammer that washer flat first.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 72 mercrusier 165 hp, I drive, upper shift shaft ?

DHP, yep the upper shift shaft is brass. and yep, upper drive is still attached. i've tried the grease and the darn thing still falls real easy.as soon as i touch it it falls, grrrr. am trying rubber bands now trying to hold it up. seems like i might have hope. darn mosquitos were makein me crazy though so i had to stop trying for now. but will try again soon, i'll let ya know. thanks for the tip. jim<br />ps, yes, i did hammer the washer flat too. thanks,

 

[surfer23505]

Re: 72 mercrusier 165 hp, I drive, upper shift shaft ?

Ziggy, sorry this is completly irrrelevent, but that is a sweet screen name.