Reinstalling lower unit on a 1965 65hp Merc

[jevans19]

I dropped my lower unit last fall to change out the seals and impeller. I thought that I could do all the work myself and then found out that I couldn't so I took the lower unit to a boat shop to get finished and I am trying to reinstall it back into the motor but it hangs about 2 inches from home.
What am I missing? I was told that I need to be in foward gear. I tried F, N, & R. Is there something else that I am missing? I have read somewhere else that I need to "Align the guide block to position the rear edge of the pin with the front edge of the exaust cover plate." When I do this, I am in neutral. Also, do I need to spin the flywheel or can I spin the prop until the splines align? I was fighting with this last night for about 3 hours and I know that I am just missing something stupid.

Thanks

 

[jevans19]

Re: Reinstalling lower unit on a 1965 65hp Merc

bump

 

[Whizzykid]

Re: Reinstalling lower unit on a 1965 65hp Merc

i'm no expert at all, but having looked at a few other similar posts here, it needs to be in gear, either forward or reverse so you can turn prop (a bit of wiggelage should sort it) when trying get lower unit home and this should allign the drive correctly hope this helps but again i'll say i've got absolutely no experience at this, just intuition. (hopefully, lol!)

 

[jevans19]

Re: Reinstalling lower unit on a 1965 65hp Merc

yes, it would seem that it would be that easy but for some reason it is not. Anyone else have any other ideas?

 

[jevans19]

Re: Reinstalling lower unit on a 1965 65hp Merc

bump

 

[oldnhbuck]

Re: Reinstalling lower unit on a 1965 65hp Merc

wowsa..I'm hoping you have it back together by now..I see you posted in March..

I'm going thru the same nightmares I see on here as the 4,987,312 other people who removed a LU and can't get it realigned and the gearing to work right...right now..

my question is this..(1979 Merc Thunderbolt 90 hp inline 6)

w/ LU in fwd..(can't turn prop backwards..ratchets CW)

as I raise LU into place..(plastic water sleeve fits over copper tube ok and slides nice n easy).....

driveshaft slides nicely into place and I can feel splines engaging at powerhead..

the exhaust gasket is put back into place with part of the gasket sliding under water pump housing and well lubed... and I can feel exhaust tube sliding into the gasket ok..


question...

should....??... the shift shaft "slop" [@ 270 degrees or so.. left to right and right to left...when shiftshaft is engaged so LU is in forward..

(annnnnnnd.. shift lever at control by steering wheel is in fwd as well)...

be all the way to the right ...CW? or all the way to the left..CCW??
naturally ..turned only as far as I can feel it turn, using up the 'slop"..til it feels like it's up against a detent..so I don't shift it out of fwd either way)?????????

No problem here w/ the aligning and lifting LU into place.. [I found that the secret to aligning my shift shaft was to slide a finger down thru the hole that the speedo hose goes up into and out of the tower housing as you raise the LU..and align the upper shift coupler w/ the LU shiftshaft splines..and press down on the upper shiftshaft coupler w/ the tip of my finger to be sure the LU shiftshaft splined end doesn't pop out of place as I'm raising the lower unit...

then a bunch of gentle wiggling and jiggling til I can get the flats and nuts started..and continued wiggling and following with finger- tightening the nuts as the LU goes up..(nuts keep it from dropping again)..and it slides up within less than 1/8 of an inch by hand..w/out a thought of a wrench or socket thus far..

at this point..is when I attempt to move my shift control by steering wheel..to neutral (and check prop to see if it's in neutral (NOT)...and then check to see if by moving shifter (by steering wheel) to reverse..if prop is in reverse...(NOT)...)..

Only thing I know for sure is that LU is still in fwd..and that shift control by steer wheel is still in fwd position..

note: I bought the boat with a screwed up shift problem...no fwd/reverse or neutral and shift cables were undone and backed off all the way at the motor..

since then..I dropped LU and changed orings and seals on and in carrier bearing at propshaft...vacuum tested propshaft seals and lower h2o pump seal and shift shaft seal..(all OK now)..done in 3 steps...2-5 and 10 psi

and have run lower unit by hand thru FWD/Neutral>Reverse and all are OK..in LU..

installed new water pump and impeller while LU was down..and am attempting to join the ranks of the wanna-be outboard mechs..and reinstall LU so that the shifting actually WORKS when I'm done...

so far...I've only got real good at removing and installing LU's..

ps..1st timer here (w/ OB motors and LU's..and ...way too many hours reading manuals/ posts and actual labor...so please forgive any sarcasm you older folks may read between the lines..I'm far from a spring chicken myself..however my patience is waning..and am thinking a sailboat may be rather nice about now..

I tried this so far w/ shift shaft all the way CW til I ran out of slop cuz that's what the serv mgr at the merc marine dealership said was the absolute ONLY way to do these w/OUT any probs and it would be a 1 shot deal..

(I'm running out of ammo fast here..) so much for 1 shot..

tomorrow morn I will disconnect shift cables and try turning selector gear on motor where cables connect to be sure my prob isn't a cable prob from shifter by steer wheel..and 'hope' LU shifts into F/N/R...however..I have this nagging suspicion I'll be lowering LU again..and attempting to reposition shift shaft gear CCW to end of slop..

not sure I really need an answer..I think I know what has to be done..maybe just wanted some reassurance..lol...

let me end by saying this..

These posts and threads are an absolute Godsend to so many of us.."noobs"....

you folks on here are pretty special to have the patience to answer the same questions over and over to a different name at the end of the same questions..

This LU thing is a recurring theme....over and over and over..I read the posts....same questions..same answers...and yet..here I am....asking another one..

luck to all who attempt it..and may patience shine on us..one and all..

My sincere thanks for the forum..the posts..and the folks who are kind enuf to share their wisdom and experience..