Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

[dtigner]

Hi I've been all over my shop manual and I'm tring to seperate the stern drive from the bell housing but it will only come out about a 3/4" and stops dead. Manual says the SHIFT cable is attached to the bell housing and needs a special tool to remove (91-12037)all models it says. Its a alpha I or something, it was attached to a Mercruiser 470 (1979)on the stern it has "470" decal on it.Any tricks of the trade on this issue from anyone would help.Thanks

 

[Rickles]

Re: Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

Put the shifter in forward gear first.If it won't come off it's stuck in the splines of the coupler and will require some brute force to pry it off.Be careful not to damage the gasket surface on the bell housing.good luck

 

[qystan]

Re: Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

Yes, check the shift, it must be in the forward gear position. <br /><br />The shift cable is not attached to the drive,only to the bell housing which does not come off with the drive.<br /><br />The tool is requied to remove the cable. Removing the drive is only by the 6 nuts. Watch your back, its heavy.

 

[sculbert]

Re: Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

First question, did you try to seperate it by removing the six nuts on the back top of the outdrive or by seperating the bellhousing from the gimbal housing? All you need to do is remove the six bolts and put the shifter in forward position. Then you just yank the whold outdrive off. If you can pull it back 3/4" I don't think your splines are froze. you wouldn't be able to move it at all.

 

[dtigner]

Re: Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

Thanks for the replies,<br />Mercury Blues- I took the six bolts on the outside off. I moved off about 3/4" and stopped coming off, like it was hung up or something.So I thought it was the shift cable holding it.

 

[sculbert]

Re: Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

Keep pulling it will come out. there isn't anything else holding it. Just so long as you have it in the forward position. Mine was tight comming out also. I think it is the seal on the backside of the gimbal bearing that cause it to do that.

 

[Merdoc]

Re: Seperating Sterndrive from Bellhousing ,shift cable tool???

Yes 6 bolts, forward on the shifter, makes sure the gimbal bearing isnt froozen to the shaft? 3/4" of a inch probilly isn't but check.