outdrive stuck

[craig newton]

96 Mercruiser 4.3LX 6cyl 262cid 4bbl alpha one gen two

last month I removed the lower unit only to replace impeller. working alone I had trouble re-installing the unit. was advised to remove upper unit, connect the two then re-install. using a floor jack, I was able to do that and was pleased my water circulation problem was no more. so was ready to launch for the first time. started up, idled and went through no wake zone ok. under load vibrated, ran rough, obvious problem so crawled back to dock. I thought maybe loose prop or gimbal bearing so again I came back here asking for help locating the problem. almost all responses required removing the out-drive which is what I'm having a problem with. I bought an engine hoist since I'm doing it alone. I ruled out a lack of gear lube / not filling it correctly. I drained the out-drive today and recovered approx. two quarts of clean lube, no water, no debris or metal shavings on the magnetized drain screw. I removed the prop and found nothing wrong with it, the shaft, splines... I put the remote in forward, attached the crane, removed both trim arms and the six nuts. I adjusted the crane until I could wiggle the out-drive enough to be sure it wasn't hanging up on any of the six bolts. it's loose enough to shake sideways and up and down but it doesn't want to separate. what else could be holding it together? what am I missing?

 

[matt167]

Gimbal bearing is galled into driveshaft

 

[alldodge]

^^^ Agree or drive alignment is way off
Drive should be pulled at least every 3 years to check alignment, I do it every year

Put the rams back on the drive and place a 2x4 on top the drive. Raise the drive and it should pull it self out

 

[Bt Doctur]

might need a few different sizes , 2.3.4.5 lower the drive ,place a piece of wood that fits between the top of the drive and the transom housing, raise drive, lower drive add a bigger block, etc.

 

[Grub54891]

Did the shift dog release?

 

[craig newton]

Did the shift dog release?

I don't understand. what is a shift dog? is it where the cable from the front connects to the back? the remote is still in forward position. the shift shaft is still facing forward and can only turn the prop clockwise from behind.

 

[craig newton]

^^^ Agree or drive alignment is way off
Drive should be pulled at least every 3 years to check alignment, I do it every year

Put the rams back on the drive and place a 2x4 on top the drive. Raise the drive and it should pull it self out

I tried the 2x4 and ended up with 1/16" gap. It's very loose. I can shake it up and down as well as sideways. But it will not slide off and I've been trying all morning. I attached a pic and avi file if you wouldn't mind looking at it and see if I'm doing it reight

 

[alldodge]

The file doesn't show up

BT explained it better then I did. 2x4 on top, raise drive and if it doesn't come off, put block of wood down to lower side and run the rams in

Repeat until it breaks loose.

The rams have more power going up then down but this is about all you can do. Don't use a pry bar between drive and bell housing because it will damage both.

 

[Bt Doctur]

you need multiple lengths of 2 x 4 3,4,5,6
place a block of wood, raise drive untill it no, longer moves, go down all the way, place the next larger block,raise drive untill movement stops, lower drive
place the next larger block and do it again.
by the time you get to the 5 inch one it should be aff

 

[Grub54891]

Ok, so you don’t have the drive I was seeing in my head, if your shift dog is straight ahead it should come off. I was visualizing a bravo drive. Sorry. The above suggestions should work.

 

[alldodge]

Your using the 2x in the wrong direction, lay it horizontal

 

[craig newton]

Looks like another busy morning with the wood. To a beginner like myself, these forums are an absolute life saver. I can't thank you people enough for all your input. My first thoughts went towards crow bar, wedges and Grub's hammer. So glad I refrained.

 

[Scott06]

Looks like another busy morning with the wood. To a beginner like myself, these forums are an absolute life saver. I can't thank you people enough for all your input. My first thoughts went towards crow bar, wedges and Grub's hammer. So glad I refrained.

Take your time , you will get it off. Given vibration and noise bet you find rusty u joints and gimbal seized to driveshaft.

 

[craig newton]

Round two with the 2x4 it was down for the count. Did someone say rusty u joints and a gimbal bearing seized to the shaft?The way it was running on the water I expected to find a bunch of broken pieces when I opened it up but did not. The main bellow had no water or gear oil and only some minor sludge like substance I got out with a shop rag. There was a lot of grease but I probably over did it trying to re-assemble it after replacing the impeller. It did not look aligned to me. I tried to get a picture of the coupler but looking at the spline with an endoscope I found no damage. The smaller bellows was clean and dry. So far I know I need an alignment tool. Now to the outdrive. I obviously need a new gimbal bearing and an install tool. There's a lot of play in the u-joint so I don't know. Turning the shaft in accordance with moving the shift shaft seems fine. No clunking or grinding coming from inside. What else should I be looking at or buying other than what I mentioned? Oh yeah and how do get that seized gimbal off the shaft?

 

[Bt Doctur]

the inside of the bellow looks funky. bearings dont seize unless water was in there. Just beat it off with a hammer

 

[alldodge]

^^^Agree, water came in from somewhere.

 

[craig newton]

Not making much progress with a hammer. Can I cut this off or grind it off?

 

[Lou C]

How about heating the inner race of the bearing?

 

[Grub54891]

https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Bearing-14-Piece-Separator-Splitter/dp/B0CX1BV6QD/ref=asc_df_B0CX1BV6QD?mcid=95ce60ab936737c79ec141c37a29a2aa&hvocijid=10755331017403656508-B0CX1BV6QD-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10755331017403656508&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019406&hvtargid=pla-2281435178578&psc=1

 

[Grub54891]

Or select what you think will work.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bearing+puller&i=automotive&crid=27P76VTHK9MAA&sprefix=Bearing%2Cautomotive%2C164&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-pd-dpltr-ranker_1_7