shift shaft on outdrtive

[imraan47]

Hey.
so still having problems with the shift shaft and also worried about installation of the outdrive.
i just took it out to see whats going on. here is a pic of the outdrive shift shaft.

i moved the shift shaft to point straight forward and as i did that i moved the prop counter clock wise. eventually the prop then stuck so i guess that means its in gear.
oh also shifter was put in forward before removing the outdrive.

now my question is:
what do i need to do in order to make sure that my throttle or shifter will work the way its supposed to. that means it will idle and go forward and reverse without the problem that i had. that is that when i push forward it goes into neutral, then just catches forward at high throttle and i have to pull it back.

question 2:
in the pic you can see the shift shaft..is that what it should look like or is there supposed to be a washer sitting at the bottom so that the shift shaft doesn't drop down?
because when the outdrive is back on...this shift shaft on outdrive doesn't go in snug with the shaft on the stern drive (labeled b in pic)

 

[Don S]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

Put the drive on, then tilt it up and look at how the two shift shafts go together.
Here is Ziggies picture, notice how his shift shaft are together. Note, his is shown in neutral, not forward.

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

mine dont sit that way. it just misses each other.
so in this case are we talking about a missing washer like i thought and posted about in previous thread or is it something else based on my picture in post 1

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

missing washer if its low

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

what kind of washer am i to go shop for. size?

 

[dubs283]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

you will need to split the drive to install the washer

it sits on top of the shift shaft bushing in the lower half of the drive

as far as size your probably not gonna find the exact size at the hardware - but probably 5/16" maybe?? with a larger O.D. than a standard washer, and SS of course

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

where can i get the right washer? i assume its part of some kit.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

#50 here: http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...03&bnbr=90&bdesc=GEAR+HOUSING(Driveshaft)+-+R (.390 x 1.00 x .06)

 

[dubs283]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

where can i get the right washer? i assume its part of some kit.

he he - got a half dozen or so sittin in my alpha spare parts drawer!!

but really - local merc dealer will probably just GIVE you one if you ask nicely

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

thanks for the part # and details. this will help.

also now i wanted to know some details as a newbe...how to install the drive. because for some reason its off the gears as i mentioned in my first post.
is it sufficient to keep the SS straight, shifter in forward, prop turned ccw until it cant go anymore and keep some stress on the prop in that position and slide the outdrive into place.
should this fix my problem that is
when i push forward it goes into neutral, then just catches forward at high throttle and i have to pull it back. i dont even have idle basically.
the shift cable and throttle on the engine side is aligned as close as possible to what it was so the problem isn't there for sure.

 

[dubs283]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

have you ever had the drive halves apart??

and if so...

when you reassembled the two halves of the drive did you ensure the lower was in full fwd??

 

[stonyloam]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

have you ever had the drive halves apart??

That is the key question. You can not fix it without splitting the outdrive lower (gearcase) from the upper (driveshaft housing). I suspect that your problem is due to the loose connection between the upper shift shaft and the intermediate shift shaft due to the missing lower shift shaft washer. Gotta split it.

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

no the two haven't been split since sept 2009.
last summer before i stored it the coupler was replaced and since then all this problems so i couldn't really take it out for the last 2 weekends i had.
i had put a zip tie to hold it in place and did take it out once like that and thats how i noticed the issue with the shifter just catching into forward at high throttle and there is no idle even.

 

[dubs283]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

if you didn't have these shift issues last year and the washer wasn't there then you got lucky with that one

that being the case sounds like you need a new shift cable or something is bent

in any case you will need to get that washer installed properly and as long as you are in the drive, install a new water pump and base assy and pressure test

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

i got lucky because the last mechanic that put the rebuilt lower unit didn't do his job. there was 2-3 small zip ties holding it and he could only have put that there. not going to him anymore.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

The washer doesn't go where you think it does in your pic. It goes over the splined shift shaft on the lower half. The shift shaft of the upper sits on the washer and the washer keeps it from falling out of the shift shaft in the bellhousing as in Ziggy's photo above.

When you reassemble the lower and upper together. Twist the splined shift shaft of the lower cw while rotating the prop ccw, until it locks, then the lower half is in forward. While keeping the lower in forward either by hand on the prop or with a bungee cord mate the halves together with the shift shaft of the upper being straight fore and aft, while the lower is in forward. If the lower gets bumped out of gear while doing it you have to back up and do it again.

If you separate the halves make note of the oil passage between the halves, sealed by the quad o-ring, make sure it is there when you re assemble and would be a good idea to get a new one when you get the washer

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

You should at some point think about updating the shift shaft seal/bushings in the bellhousing. They have been updated with a better design and if yours fail it can let water into areas it shouldn't be. Here is a photo by Fishermark with his replaced.

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

ahh this is too complex.
i decided to take this into a mechanic.
i will only have to put the outdrive back in.
so i need to research on how to put the outdrive back in properly to not have complications with shifting.
thanks for the responses.

 

[imraan47]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

could i be dealing with a bad shift cable?

 

[Don S]

Re: shift shaft on outdrtive

Take your drive to the shop and let them put it back on and make sure it's adjusted properly. Without the drive, they have no way of making sure everything is ok.