I Just Can Not get it Together

[cavalier858]

A 1971 Mercruiser Alpha Drive for ID purposes the one with the with the eyehook on top.

I removed the lower drive section and replaced lower and upper water pump bodies, impeller and SS plate and gaskets. Put the pump nuts and 1 screw and torqued them to spec. Put on slinger and o-ring.

The shifter up front in the cabin was in forward and remained so throughout the project.

I cannot get the bottom unit closer then 1/2" to 3/4 inch back together.

I have original Merc orange manuals, read all of the IBoats pdf's, etc.

Even though the new looked exactly like the "old", could I have wrong pump parts?

If it moved from forward would this be my problem?

How do I check forward / reverse?

My arms are getting very tired. I will pay someone to look at this if interested.

Union Beach, NJ

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

You will have to keep both halves of the drive in forward as well when they are being mated together.

Did you just drop the lower down and the upper is still attached to the bellhousing? Or whole drive off the boat and separate while off?

When attaching the halves together, the lower half in forward by twisting the splined shift shaft cw, and rotating the prop ccw until it locks,- and hold it in forward the entire time until they are bolted together, can be done with another person or bungee cord on the prop holding in ccw. ( while looking at the bow from the stern). If it gets bumped out of forward you have to drop it and do it again, or issues shifting will result.

The upper is in forward if the shift shaft is pointing straight forward and aft.

Don't forget the quad ring between the halves and the ss washer on the lower shift shaft before mating.

As you get close check the shift shafts are aligned into each other as in the 2nd photo (by Ziggy) so they don't get bent by forcing.

 

[cavalier858]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

Did you just drop the lower down and the upper is still attached to the bellhousing? Or whole drive off the boat and separate while off?

I just dropped the lower section. The upper is still on the transom.


The upper is in forward if the shift shaft is pointing straight forward and aft.

I looked at the picture and do not understand shift shaft is pointing straight forward and aft as it looks like a spline.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

Of coarse the 1st pic shows just the lower, with the splined shaft.

The 2nd photo shows them mated correctly but (not in forward). Forward would be straight ahead.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

check your messages

 

[zx9rstv]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

The splines on the prop shaft might not be aligned with the upper, You may have to turn the prop slightly so the teeth are aligned while pushing up into the upper. When I mean turn the prop, turn it the way it's hard to turn not the way it spins freely. Also it only may need a slight adjustment. Don't go trying to turn it with all your might. And it's way easier with two people.

 

[cavalier858]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

Well when a newbie (me) has an extra rubber bushing on top of the pump housing of course it can't go together. THANKS ED now Wiping egg off face

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

Last time I reinstalled my lower unit, I had the lower unit and controls in neutral. As I held the lower unit up, I got someone to push the control into forward--and the lower unit slipped right in (up). Then, I buttoned up all the nuts, etc.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

Your Welcome

 

[Greytfun]

Re: I Just Can Not get it Together

Just checked this thread a bit too late. I forget that stupid o-ring every time too. It takes a few beads of sweat before I remember to look up inside and remove it. In the immortal words of Homer, "DOH!" Glad you're back in business again.