Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

[Spicy_McHaggis]

I am nearing the end of a long and tedious boat overhaul and I am having probloems with it shifting now. before I pulled the lower shifting was fine, I replaced the water pump now it is hard to shift. Where the shift shaft sits it seems to be hitting. I thought I had it backwards or something so I dropped it again to find that it was the right way but is still hitting and making impossible to shift from forward. Am I missing something, I haven't seen anything in my searches of anyone having this problem.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

they go like this, it`s in neutral now.

 

[Spicy_McHaggis]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

no matter what I do it won't sit flush with the outside edge like that it sits about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch back and I don't know why

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

It sounds like the intermediate shift shaft is "off by a spline". Let's see if i can explain: If the control lever is in forward the shoe is straight ahead. If when you put the two halves back together the lower shift shaft was in reverse instead of forward the intermediate shaft could line up and look OK, but it is not. When the lower ss is turned all the CCW you are in R. If you put it together with the lower in R and the control in F, when you try to shift out of F the upper ss tries to turn the intermediate and lower shift shaft even farther CCW, and it won't go. If that is what happened, you need to shift the control all the way forward, split the halves and turn the lower ss (splined shaft) all the way clockwise, and put er back together. I hope I know what I am talking about. Good luck.
Thought about it a little more: If off by a spline, I think you will be locked in reverse, try to spin the prop. For reverse it should spin freely counterclockwise, lock clockwise, if in Forward spin CW, lock CCW.

 

[Spicy_McHaggis]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

ok, I understand all that. It was exactly what I did, I had two other people helping me, one holding the prop with slight pressure CCW, one lining up the shift shaft while I lifted the whole thing. and yes the hand control was in forward. But for some reason as the lower gets closer the shift shaft wants kick back. Is the shaft just bent or something? is it possible to get it out of there and just replace it??

IMG_1280cdd.jpg

 

[chaparall villain 2]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

i have an alpha one on my boat and have had it off a few times to replace water pump the last time i took it off i noticed the shoe part that engages the upper unit has an e clip retaining it in place .... you might want to check to make sure its in place and not too loose other than that with the boat in drive and the lower unit down some from its high point of trim i think i did just as the other guy said put the unit in drive where when your trying to turn the prop counterclockwise its hard then slip it up into the upper unit and turn prop counterclockwise until the driveshaft engages in its teeth good luck

 

[orzo]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

I know this is a dumb question, but I did exactly the same thing last fall when I replaced my water pump. In order to correct it, do I have to remove the entire outdrive again or can I split it in place just enough to rotate the spline? Please let me know. THANKS!!!

 

[cr2k]

Re: Alpha One hard to shift after replacing water pump

I am betting the shoe shaft is bent form someone trying to remove the drive in neutral.