Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

[diew]

Hi. I searched all over this forum but couldn't find anything concerning this problem. I have a 1986 alpha one drive on and am trying to get it off due to shifting problems.(either shift cable or castle nut is bad). According to mercstuff.com and another manual i've seen, all i need to due is shift into forward, take of trim tab bolt and the 6 nuts that hold the outdrive on. After i did this i tried to pull the outdrive straight off. It came out about 1/8 of an inch but i couldn't pull it out any more. There is plenty of play between the mating surfaces and gasket like it wants to come off but something is getting caught. I didn't want to pry on it too hard for fear that the mating surfaces might get damaged. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. <br /><br />thanks for your time.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

Well, it is a good idea to force anything apart jus yet....Since you are having cable issues, I would verify that it is actually going into gear....<br />Push the drive back on....<br />Put the shifter at the helm in FWD....<br />Go outside & turn the prop ccw....<br />Does it firmly lock in gear?<br />Next, lift the drive & visually inspect the shift shaft coupler, (located under the exhaust bellows) they both must be facing foreward....<br />If they are, the drive should come off with no problem other than a little rust may be holding things up....<br />The only thing that holds the drive on is the six bolts & the trim rams, (and the shift shaft coupler if not aligned right)...<br />A piece of wood between the drive & gimbal ring will help unstick a pesky drive, just lift it up & slam it down, it will come off ....JK

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

Sounds like the shifting is tight.follow hauts advice on the shift shoe. may need coaxing with a screwdriver to get it straight for removal. if there was water in the boot for a period of time the gimbal bearing could be rusted to the shaft, if the rear motor mount bushings are collapsed all the wieght of the motor is sitting on the shaft,could be jammed inside whats left of the coupler.

 

[Don Crandol]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

You didn't mention removing the anchor pin that runs through the drive and connects to the trim rams

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

Don Crandol,<br />The only thing that holds the drive on is the six bolts & the trim rams, (and the shift shaft coupler if not aligned right)... ...JK

 

[Don Crandol]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

Haut Medoc,<br />deiw didn't mention removing the rams, his message said "trim tab bolt",which could very well mean the anchor pin for the rams, I was just throwing something out. You know how sometimes those snakes are so close that they can bite you.

 

[diew]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

thanks for all the fast replies. Just to clear some stuff up, I did remove the trim achor pin or trim tab bolt, Before taking off the 6 bolts i did make sure it was in forward gear by spinning the prop CCW and it does lock. As far as the rear motor mounts collapsing and putting all the weight on the shaft, i don't think this is the case. I took out the motor and rebuilt it and dropped it back in about 7 months ago and the shaft easily slid in to the engine coupler.I'll check the rear mounts anyway just in case. I think the only 2 plausible causes is the rubber boot is leaking, letting sea water into where the gimbal bearing is and that the shift shafts are not aligned. I looked underneath the drive but i couldn't see the shift shafts, Are they inside of a rubber boot? And is there anyway other ways to check if they're aligned?<br /><br />thanks again.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

They are not in the rubber boot, but beneath it... Manual #6 <br />Look in here.....Page 2A-15 item "C" must face fwd...<br />Item "A", on page 2A-16 must face fwd as well......JK

 

[diew]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

ok yeah i see it.. it is in the forward position.<br /><br />thanks for your time. so i guess the only thing is it can be rusted or something huh?

 

[diew]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

ok so it is in forward gear, the shift shaft is facing forward, but when i rotate the prop ccw, it is not locking. It was locking before but since i have pulled the outdrive out about 1/4 of an inch it is only making a clanking sound like it wants to lock but it isn't. It seems like its only locking like half way or something. Is there a problem with this?<br /><br />thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Trouble Removing Mercruiser Outdrive..

drop a number here<br />EJDSR251@aol.com