mercruiser out drive problem

[badbowtie]

I removed my out drive today on my 85 wellcraft with the v-8 with the alpha one out drive to begin my lower shift cable swap. When I removed the out drive the bellow that has the u joint and the shaft that goes into the gimbel bearing was full of oil not motor oil actual out drive oil should their be oil in that bellow If not How would it of gotten their. Could it had anything thing to do with when I filled the out drive I filled it from the vent screw because I could not figure any other way to fill it. Also has anybody done the lower shift cable with out using the tools that I read about in boatfix to replace the cable.
Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

you can`t fill it from the top screw, you must fill from the bottom untill it comes out the top hole.the oil in the boot is from a bad carrier seal behind the u joint.If you filled from the top and ran it, your shift problem may be drive related and not cable related.

 

[Coors]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

And they aren't cv's in "85".

 

[badbowtie]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

I did fill from the top but you are saying you fill from the bottom screw how do you keep it from runing right back out. My manual told me from the bottom two but was just confused and didn't see what would matter if it came out the top hole any way why not just fill it from their. So do you just squirt the oil in the bottom until it comes out the top with it all the way down or up in trailer mode. Also I think the cable is still bad because no matter how you adjust it it will stick in forward or reverse If you are in reverse you have to go past neutral towards forward to get it back in neutral. Or if you adjust it you get it to do the same thing but in forward. The oil in the bellow could that have been from filling from the top or do I still need that seal. the seal doesn't look that hard to replace. I just need that special wrench.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

filling from the bottom removes the trapped air in the drive. when it comes out the top hole, put that plug in ,creates a vac. condition.then put the bottom plug in.
If you drained it from the bottom and tried filling from the top ,there was almost no oil in the drive. if you ran it like this you may have damaged the drive severely.drive is filled with the drive in a vertical position.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

Yes the seal needs to be replaced.....​

 

[badbowtie]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

Well last night I got the new seal and the oring in and got the that big nut torqued back down. Tom I am going to try to get the lower shift cable replaced has anybody done the cable with out using the tool.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

Well last night I got the new seal in and the oring and got the that big but all torqued back down. Tom I am going to try to get the lower shift cable replaced has anybody done the cable with out using the tool.

If you have a deep enough socket, you could grind the ratchet end down so that an open end wrench could fit, or weld a nut on the end.....
The tool does make it easy though......

 

[Scott in MN]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

Good luck on that shift cable bell housing fitting. Mine was frozen in and I had to drill the whole thing out.

 

[sarantis]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

assuming you will replace the big nut you can use a hammer and the tool you break the cement.I,ve done that and it works but after replacement fix the wounded edges of the new nut because they may catch the big retaining gasket when installing the outdrive in.the nut is many times cheaper than the tool.
your problem may be the cutoff switch.I had similar problems,the cable in front of the bell housing looked worn, i replaced it and nothing changed.It was a matter of adjustment of the switch in relation to both of the cables.see many relevant threads.

 

[sarantis]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

as about the spacial tool for the cable i used the tool for the spark plugs but i had to cut the old cable.

 

[Mojo240]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

I was able to replace my shift cable using a crows foot. Good luck

 

[Bondo]

Re: mercruiser out drive problem

So do you just squirt the oil in the bottom until it comes out the top with it all the way down or up in trailer mode.

Actually,...... You need a Pump........

It's Pumped in from the Bottom, with the drive Down......

And,...... It takes just Over a Quart,.... So buy 2,+ you'll have some left......