Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

[Fordiesel69]

Well to me it is a big problem. I am probably just missing somthing stupid.

I took the outdrive off to inspect the splines / u-joints, and found no damage at all. The problem is I cannot get the outdrive back on. It is not going in far enough. I bumped the engine over thinking it is like a transmission and just needed to mate, but it did no good. Any ideas what I am doing wrong. I have tried putting the shift cable in each postion, forward, neutral, and reverse, and it did not help.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

The drive must be in fwd and the control box must be in fwd. Was it hard to remove the drive? Maybe the alignment is off.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

My god no!!!! It literally fell off it was so easy. I found out the drive is NOT in FWD postion because my prop shaft spins free, but my throttle lever is. How can I put the drive in forward by doing it by hand? This must be the problem.

 

[Dshow]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

I have an Alpha 1 Gen 2, but on mine, there is a "foot" on the outdrive this is pointing straight ahead when the drive is in forward. By turning the prop shaft, the direction of this "foot" can be adjusted. When it points straight forward, it will slide into the "shoe" on the mating surface. When putting the drive on, make sure the "foot" slides into the "shoe". (Don't know if I used the correct terminology...)

Good Luck!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

yep, helm remote in fwd. while the drive is off. manually shift the drive into fwd. the prop will lock ccw. to keep it in fwd. tie up and load up the prop so it stays in fwd with a bungee cord. load it up ccw. you can also use the prop to slightly turn the main drive shaft so as to line up the spines with the coupler. only turn the prop ccw. if it moves cw at all it'll shift out of fwd and you'll have to start over... also, i've found that the drive must be installed when it's perfectly straight and lined up with the bellhousing...

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Ok guys, I was able to put the little lever into FWD, and yes it sure did help a lot, but I still cannot get it all the way in. Its like the engine coupler is not accepting it all the way. I have turned the prop CCW also.

 

[ErieRon]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Did you align the gimbal bearing/engine with the alignment tool Could just be out of alignment.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Ayuh,... How much is it lacking,..??
It sometimes takes a Mule Kick to get the o-rings thru the gimbel bearing,...
Especially if you didn't slather everything with Grease like you should....

Btw,... I use a bungee strap to hold pressure on the propshaft, to Hold it in Forward...
Relieve the Pressure,+ it naturally falls into neutral...Not Good...

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Its on enough the studs are inside the outdrive, but I cannot even begin to thread the nuts on.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

You do know that the factory manuals for both your boats are available as a free download under the "Adults Only" sticky at the top of this forum? They explain all that stuff about having it in FWD gear, etc.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Yes, but after spending hours downloading, its corrupt while opening. I downloaded at work and the same thing occurs.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Never answered the question - did you align the engine???

 

[rebars1]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

If the shift "foot" and "shoe" align, and helm shift is in forward, then, like Bondo said, grease up the O rings and try some hard shoving/bumping, and maybe have someone else slightly rotate the engine manually to align the splines. Does it sound like it is hitting something that is stopping forward movement?

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

Never answered the question - did you align the engine???

I wouldn;t know how to do this. I rotated it, but I see no aligment. I looked into the boot and the splins look in line with the gimbel bearing.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

ya gotta buy yerself an alignment bar... like this one. http://www.iboats.com/Engine_Alignm...3586677--**********.866365658--view_id.271231, ebay has them too and many other places... if your gonna be removing drives, ya gotta have one. might as well get one now as to later, you won't be sorry ya did.

anyways, ya grease up the end of the bar with spline grease, then ya stick that tool into and through your gimble brg. and then into the coupler. it should slide in relitivly smooth till it bottoms out. then should be fairly easy to remove. if your aligned. this will occur + the grease on the end of the bar will be a nice perfect mirror image of the coupler splines.

every time ya remove your drive. ya might as well run the test...

 

[ErieRon]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

There is an alignment tool that is long bar with varying diameters that slides through the gimbal bearing and into the engine coupler. There is a very specific procedure to follow if the alignment is off. The alignment is critical, and should be done every time the drive is pulled (annually, actually). If it is off, it could very easily be restricting your's from full engagement.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Need help fast, big problem! Can't get merc outdrive back on.

I will never remove one again..........................

I got pissed since I have been up since 7AM today with no success. I finally got it in, was able to spin the prop and the engine also spun. So I took a block of wood, and hammered it in place. It was stiff as I think those o-rings were keeping it from going in. Anyways its in now.

I will pull it again over the winter or have a shop do it. Anways off to the bay again.....