Newbie with alpha 1 ?

[victorvillian]

Here's the deal, I've got a 88 21foot commander with a merc 350 5.7 and an alpha 1. I replaced the impeller and the next time we went out the boat ran great "till the end of the day. Was doing about 30 when she just kinda clunked and spun, then, no forward or reverse! Usually it'll "grind into gear, but nothing. Got the lower unit off yesterday and fluid looks good and so does the prop, but I can't get the lower unit back on the drive! I have it in forward but it wont go that last inch. This happened last time and I just put it in forward and it went right in. I'm thinking it's a cable or something that's not engaging. Any suggestions? Thanks for the help!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

Vic, You need to provide CCW pressure on the prop to keep the LU in forward. You also need to turn the prop which in turn, turns the driveshaft, until the splines of the driveshaft match up to the coupler, or the drive will not go on.

 

[victorvillian]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

It seems that when I turn the prop shaft it doesn't turn the shaft coming from the impeller housing, is this right?

 

[thrasher]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

thats correct if the drive is in neutral. However you need to put it in gear (forward or reverse) then turn the propellor to turn the drive shaft. What Chris was saying is that if you turn the prop the wrong way, the drive will jump out of gear, so you need to try turning the prop in both directions to see which direction works best, but keep the drive in gear. Also as the drive starts to slide in place, make sure the gear selector lever on te outdrive is correctly engaging with the lever on the bell housing.

Gary

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

That last inch is usually the shift shaft itself, not wanting to engage into the intermediate shift shaft....(the thing that indexes with the coupler on the upper).....
Turn the prop ccw & the shift shaft cw to lock it into gear.....
You may need to turn the prop ccw slightly to get them to mate as well as fiddle with the intermediate shift shaft to get it to engage......
It can be real hard to do while the upper is attached to the bell housing.....
That is why any time I need to separate the upper & lower, I take the drive off & do it on the bench so as to not fight gravity.....
As far as your shift problem.....
Did you put the ss washer on?....
You know, the one that goes over the shift shaft & props up the intermediate shift shaft?......
That is what takes out the up & down play & keeps the intermediate & the coupler indexed.....​

 

[victorvillian]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

Haut, didn't put ss washer on, didn't know there was one! I'm at work now(haha)and I'll check when I get home. Is it just a loose washer over the shift shaft? I noticed 2 notches on each side of the shift shaft housing but it doesn't look like they do anything. Will keep all posted later. Thanks!!!!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

Haut, didn't put ss washer on, didn't know there was one! I'm at work now(haha)and I'll check when I get home. Is it just a loose washer over the shift shaft?

Yep!...
It sole purpose is to keep the intermediate propped up....

I noticed 2 notches on each side of the shift shaft housing but it doesn't look like they do anything.
Thats the bushing, it needs the washer on top of it.....
Will keep all posted later. Thanks!!!!

Good luck!........

 

[victorvillian]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

Thrasher, was just thinking(maybe too much) when I turn the prop shaft( in forward) the drive shaft does not turn! Is this right or are the gears messed up? It turns in neutral though! Thanks.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Newbie with alpha 1 ?

Thrasher, was just thinking(maybe too much) when I turn the prop shaft( in forward) the drive shaft does not turn! Is this right or are the gears messed up? It turns in neutral though! Thanks.

More oomph!......