Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

Aquaman

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 8, 2006
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I'm ready to install lower gear housing. I have the Merc manual and know to turn the lower shift shaft clockwise and apply light counter-clockwise pressure on prop shaft. My question is this...the intermediate shift shaft won't stay up in contact with the upper shift shaft. I slide it up into place and as soon as I let go of it it drops back down, it doesn't fall out of course, just drops down. Is this normal? Is it alright to coat shaft with grease so it will stay in place?

Question #2 In the picture below does #51 rubber washer fit inside and flush with the top of #49 bushing making #52 washer sit on top of and in contact with #49?

lowershiftshaft.jpg
 

Don S

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Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

Aquaman said:
Question #2 In the picture below does #51 rubber washer fit inside and flush with the top of #49 bushing making #52 washer sit on top of and in contact with #49?

Yes. That washer is what keeps the other shaft from dropping down too far.
 

Aquaman

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Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

So the metal washer keeps the intermediate from dropping down to far?

What about keeping the intermediate shaft up into the driveshaft housing while mating the two housings? Can I use grease to keep it in place?
 

Don S

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Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

Aquaman said:
What about keeping the intermediate shaft up into the driveshaft housing while mating the two housings? Can I use grease to keep it in place?

You don't need to keep that shaft up. It rests on the shift crank. If it's too short, you have something else wrong.
 

Aquaman

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Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

Don, I appreciate the help but I don't think I'm making myself clear.

I removed my lower (gear case) from the upper (driveshaft housing)...still attached to boat) so I could replace impeller and have the skeg repaired. The shift shaft in the picture above mates to a shaft hanging down from the housing thats still attached to the boat. That's the shaft I'm talking about holding in place.

I have the Quicksilver parts catalog so maybe I can use it to explain better.

Starting at the very bottom you have the shift crank (76875). It's attached to the lower shift shaft (77481). It connects to the intermediate shift shaft (62104) which mates to the upper shift shaft (45589A3)..
The lower shift shaft (77481) in the picture above has male splines that mate to the intermediate shaft (62104). The intermediate shaft (62104) is the one that won't stay in place.

Does this help?
 

Bondo

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Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

It Should all just slide Together,......

If the slop in the 2 upper shafts is bothering you,.....
Put a spot of Grease between the "Shoes" of the 2 upper shafts to hold them together while you're assembling it......

Alittle Trick I use,.......
Put a Bungie cord around the propshaft,+ hook the ends to the Anti-Cav. plate,......
Now you can turn the propshaft against the bungie,+ it'll Lock against the Shift-Dog when you click it into Forward,......

The bungie will Hold everything in Forward,........

Just 1 less thing to be Holding,+ paying Attention too......
 

ziggy

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Jun 30, 2004
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7,473
Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

i used bondos bungee cord idea on the prop, and that works real good. i took it one step further. i used rubber bands to hold the intermedeite shaft up. i was haveing the same problem with my model 1 drive. after line up, and gettin it started together, i'd just break off the rubber bands.........
 

Don S

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Re: Alpha one intermediate shift shaft question

Ok, now I see what your problem is. No, a spot of grease won't hurt anything.
 
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