I removed my shift shaft bushing assembly

[findinghomer]

Alpha one Gen 2. Long story short, I had to replace the bushing bc of a broken speedo connector. I wish I had researched first , but it seemed pretty straight forward. I didn't, Yikes. Here's what I did. I turned the L connector straight (forward gear) pulled shaft assembly out, swapped assemblies. Reinserted shift shaft back down into lower gear housing. Then later I find out i could have knocked my shift cam out of place. Now I'm worried bc I wasnt careful I didn't know it was that intrical . Pretty sure its not right. With it all back together, if I turn the L connector straight forward, the unit locks into forward, when I turn the shift shaft to my right it locks into reverse, middle neutral. But shouldnt there be some spring tension to it, and also, shouldnt counter clockwise (when looking from the prop side) be the way you would turn it for reverse? Please help, thanks guys!

 

[Fun Times]

With it all back together, if I turn the L connector straight forward, the unit locks into forward, when I turn the shift shaft to my right it locks into reverse, middle neutral. But shouldn't there be some spring tension to it, and also, shouldn't counter clockwise (when looking from the prop side) be the way you would turn it for reverse? Please help, thanks guys!

Yes it's best to be very carful not to turn anything once you remove the shift shaft item 32, http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...RD+ROTATION%29

There really isn't much tension as the shift crank number 40 in the following link turns really easy. If you have the prop shaft locking up when turned counter clockwise when going to forward gear on the shift shaft which ends up pointing to 12:00 o'clock towards the bow of the boat 'You sound like you should be okay.
And yes to go into reverse when standing at the prop looking to the bow of the boat, left (counter clockwise) to 10:00 ish is the direction to go.....11:00ish would be neutral gear and once again no effort between gears.
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...RD+ROTATION%29

All this is as long as the drive is not counter rotation.

If need be, sometimes posting a video may help too...Good luck.

 

[Bt Doctur]

When the shift shoe is ponting straight (forward) the prop will lock in fwd when turned counterclockwise
When the shift shoe is rotated TO THE LEFT, fully CCW you are in reverse and the prop lock in a CW motion
The shift shoe never turns to the right from foward , only left

 

[findinghomer]

When the shift shoe is ponting straight (forward) the prop will lock in fwd when turned counterclockwise
When the shift shoe is rotated TO THE LEFT, fully CCW you are in reverse and the prop lock in a CW motion
The shift shoe never turns to the right from foward , only left

0k, so I must have something messed up. My shift shoe only turns 12 oclock , to 3 o'clock. With my outdrive on the floor , prop in the air, if I reach around and shift the shoe to 12 oclick , it locks clockwise. When I turn the shift shoe full clockwise it locks counter clovkwise. Ugh What have I done ? Thanks for your input guys

 

[findinghomer]

When the shift shoe is ponting straight (forward) the prop will lock in fwd when turned counterclockwise
When the shift shoe is rotated TO THE LEFT, fully CCW you are in reverse and the prop lock in a CW motion
The shift shoe never turns to the right from foward , only left

Could I turn the shoe to 3 oclock, lock it, pull the assembly out, then reseat it at 12 oclock? If so what do I need to be careful with when doing this, just that the prop shaft doesn't turn with the shift shaft out ?

 

[findinghomer]

Could I turn the shoe to 3 oclock, lock it, pull the assembly out, then reseat it at 12 oclock? If so what do I need to be careful with when doing this, just that the prop shaft doesn't turn with the shift shaft out ?

I went ahead and did this, and I seem to be back in business. Everything seems back to normal. Sigh, that was a scare. For future reference , and for others who may read this thread in the future, can someone tell me what could have happened, and what the safest procedure is for this repair. I can't find much on this. After I already made the seemingly easy swap, I read generic statements like , be careful when pulling the shift shaft out it could become a nightmare, and you could have to disassemble the lower unit.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Look up the pics of the lower unit and you will how the shift works.the shift dogs slides back and forth to select the gear. the shift spool is move at the same time. the "C" selector is what is connected to the shaft. Unless the drive is held locked in gear and perfectly level(meaning the prop shaft) so the shift dog dosent move.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6B3R3.PDF
page 3B-39

 

[Rick Stephens]

Recommend you build an outdrive stand. Chore becomes a lot easier when the outdrive is held in a straight up and down position where you can easily reach and manipulate things, You will use it every year.

Rick

 

[Strecker25]

I simply screwed in some 2x4's so I could hang it right at my bench. I know people do impellers in the yard, but after doing my first on the bench in a warm basement I don't know that I would ever even think about it unless in a crunch