HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

[miahlloyd]

I have a alpha one sterndrive on a 77 mark twain rebuilt 305 motor. mercruiser.

For some reason I can not get the sterndrive all the way installed.

The shaft and all 6 bolts along with the two couplers male and female on botom are all correct.
I can get the outdrive about 3/4" away from the mate but run into a dead stop.
I have aligned the outdrive with a aligmnt tool, and it went in the drive throught the gimbol ring with ease.

Has anyone come accross this I have been reworking this for 4 hours today.

everything is greased new bellows gimbol exauhst the key to the shift is in the correct place. I just cant get the last 3/4 ". I am slowly turning the ccw the prop as I push as well, and it does have pressure against me. I cant see anything hitting.
PLEASE HELP thank you

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

control box in full fwd, outdrive in full fwd

 

[miahlloyd]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

Yes. both are in forward position. eveything is greased down as well. thank you.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

some have pulled the orings then tried to put it on to check if that is the problem but it could be your shifting connection fell out use grease so it will stay in place and dab some grease on orings. rerun your alignment bar should go in easy with hardly pushing

 

[sparky71]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

somtimes you have to turn the prop a little to align the splines...

 

[JustJason]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

when you aligned the engine. did you align it, then turn the motor over 90 degrees and recheck it?
can you slide the alignment tool in and out with very little force, as in using 2 fingers and a thumb?
if your alignment is spot on then the drive will slide right in, no problems, like buttah.
if your alignment is off just a little, or if your splines on the drive side or the coupler side have seen some bashing, then you have to give the drive the mercury kick

 

[miahlloyd]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

thanks i will try these suggestions hopefully they work.
I did not turn the engine over 90. I bet I am miss aligned somewhere
Ill check thanks again

 

[rebars1]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

Maybe the O rings pushing against the gimbal bearing are they greased? Or the splines may not be quite lined up. Try having someone manually turn the engine a little while you push/bump the outdrive.

 

[miahlloyd]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

thank you again Ill have someone turn the engine while i insert the outdrive and see if that helps

 

[Fishermark]

Re: HELP PLEASE...Alpha one sterndrive installation...

thank you again Ill have someone turn the engine while i insert the outdrive and see if that helps

Not only do you not need to turn the engine while installing... that will make it more difficult I am sure.

Jason was suggesting turning the engine (by hand) to 90 degree increments to verify that the coupler is not out of round, and that everything is aligned properly.

If your alignment truly is okay, then you can turn the prop slightly - while making sure the shift shaft and everything else is mating properly. If it is just the last 3/4 inch, then it shouldn't need to be turned, as the splines will have already engaged by that point.

It could be you have too much grease on the shaft causing it to hydrolock going into the coupler.... or, (and my money is on this), it is simply the o ring on the drive shaft sticking. Give it a good kick and see if it goes the rest of the way.