Lower shift cable "what not to do"

[starsnstripers]

1970 L6 165 MC-1, I went to take out my old style lower shift cable "threaded in from inside boat," what i didn't do is warm the area and i snapped off the hex part of the brass fitting. Now it's about flush whith part of the cable still in it. I didn't want to but maybe it's a sign. I now have to remove the bellhousing so i can drill and tap it for the new style cable "threads in from outside transom," that being said I guess I should change the bellows too and will be easier to get to the gimble bearing to install the new one. Got water pump in outdrive best i can figure with a newer style pump "no upper pump housin shaft seal" just a slinger. Made a tool for the shift shaft bushing/seal and replaced that ok. Need one more seal for lower drive shaft upper housing. Then attemp to put lower and upper back together. One thing i'm not sure of is if i need to change the oil seal in the upper housing on the drive shaft spline. It looks like oil is weeping into the spline area. Guess i wont know till i do pressure/vacume test. Should i test upper seperate from lower or should i test them put together? thanks

 

[ziggy]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

darn sns, i thought ya had a good idea too. cutting off the cable so ya could just put a socket on it.... sorry to hear its giving ya a bad attitude....... like ya said though. probalby for the best.... yer so close to them bellows ya can almost taste em........ nails and pins and the bellhousing is off..... ya gonna do the water hose too? that's fun..... not
i still think yer alright on the no seal, oil slinger only on the waterpump.
good idea to go after the shift shaft seal. i thought about it but didn't..... but i did do a pressue test the upper and lower seperatly. for as long as i could hold my finger over the hole anyways.... and retested after mateing too.

if i need to change the oil seal in the upper housing on the drive shaft spline. It looks like oil is weeping into the spline area. Guess i wont know till i do pressure/vacume test.

is that the seal ya can't see? on the upper drive shaft. under the driven gear, under the brg.? i didn't get that far either... if that's the one, looks like ya'll have the whole upper disassembled..... sure seems like a pressure test would be in order prior to going after that one......

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

I went to take out my old style lower shift cable "threaded in from inside boat,"

Not sure I understand what you mean. Neither the old or new style are "inside the boat" Just one side or the other of the bellhousing.
With the old style cable, you have no choice but to remove the bellhousing from the gimbal ring. There is no other way to get at it.
With the new style cable, you can change the cable without removeing the bellhousing. Again, nothing inside the boat.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Yes Ziggy that seal inside the geaer housing the one that keeps oil in, the pressure test will tell And Don sorry i meant to say "fed through" from inside. Any way new question, I got the bell housing off, port side hinge pin was a "BEAR" got all the bellows off and hose. Going to put new ones on since it's apart. Now, I was able to cut the broken cable with wiz tool flush, drilled it out and split and knocked the old cable brass out of the hole. I ran the tap through up to the 4 threads showing and it taped very easy. I spun the new cable in as a trial fit and it's vey sloppy not stripped but sloppy until the hex bottoms out. I'm afraid to try to tighten it when i do the install because of the slop in the threads. Seems iffy if it will hold or not. I'm not comfortable with it. So my question is what to do about it? I know teflon tape shouldn't be used so what should i use to make sure it stays? loctight, ummm ? Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Why don't you just get the straight thread tap, run all the way thru and use the new style cable. Sounds like you are just about out of threads, and they could very easily pull out when turning or tilting up and down.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

I have the new style cable, It screws in from the outside. The old one unscrewed from the transom side of the bellhousing. I taped it, although it tapped easily, the cable threads are not as snug as they should be. Any suggestions on what to use to assure it stays in? thanks

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

I have the new style cable, It screws in from the outside. The old one unscrewed from the transom side of the bellhousing. I taped it, although it tapped easily, the cable threads are not as snug as they should be. Any suggestions on what to use to assure it stays in? thanks

Locktite?

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

You didn't use a regular NPT tap from the outside to tap it did you?

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Yeah! Thread loctight it's a liquid that hardens and holds bolts tight for like high vibration for certain applications.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

No Don i followed instructions and used a NPT from the transome side through and left 4 threads showing.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Where did you read those instructions ? Here are the instructions.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

I'm not sure now but it was a sight online i believe, anyhow i didn't have a National Pipe fine straight tap only a NPT. If it's done from the inside out stopping with 4 threads showing it's suppose to be ok. Now, I think someone before me may have used a NPT and tapped it all the way through and form the outside, because there were threads already there. Anyway? What to do? Need a new bellhousing?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Where did you read those instructions ?

ms.com is where ya can read those incorrect instructions at.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Let me guess, here? http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm

 

[ziggy]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

yep

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Hey there Ziggy Evening, Yeah somewhere where they sell cables they say it's ok to do that with a NPT from the inside out. I think someone already maxed out my threads. I'm about ready to get out the JB weld haha! If i dont have any better suggestions. And save up for another bellhousing.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

I would try something like this, before replacing the bellhousing. Since it doesn't get hot and you still has most of the threads, this would probably be worth a shot.
http://www.permatex.com/products/Au...ad_repair/Permatex_Stripped_Thread_Repair.htm

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

That looks like a 2 part epoxy like JB weld or similar. Sweet! I think I'll do that. Yeah the threads aren't stripped "yet" maybe if i over tighten it they may strip. I think they might pull out from regular use though. So yeah, I'll put that on the list with the new bellows/bellows sealer. Thanks for the tip. Looks like good stuff. I have some other stuff to that is like a round tubular epoxy gray on the outside and white in the center. You break off a piece work it together until uniform color and apply. But I think if you use that stuff on threads if i remember your suppose to use a release agent. Aaah! I'm gonna try the permatex. Thanks Don

 

[Coors]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Yeah, that might be like Devcon, which is epoxy with aluminum powder in it
I fixed a cracked motorcycle crankcase with it 30 years ago; still no leaks.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Lower shift cable "what not to do"

Another good epoxy product is Marine Tex.