Old boat, new parts?

[Kill it n grill it]

I have a 1969 Cruisers Yacht that I am restoring. It has a Mercruiser 160 IL 6cyl and Mercruiser outdrive. The outdrive needs a new clutch and I really don't want to pay a shop to fix it. I also don't have the special tools I am told I need in order to do the work myself. I am curious as to what outdrives will all fit on this boat so that I can keep an eye out for a used one. Anyone have any ideas? It has been hard for me to find information on this boat, motor, and outdrive. Thank you.

 

[achris]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

That will be the MC-1 drive... Any 'MC-1', 'R', 'MR' or 'Alpha One' drive but not an 'Alpha One Gen II', (basically any drive 1967-1990), but watch for the right ratio. You need a 1.65:1 drive. Unfortunately they are the rarest ratio.

You could just buy a brand new SEI drive, about $1395, with a 3 year warranty.

Chris............

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Wow, thank you very much.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Awesome handle KI&GI!

 

[achris]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Awesome handle KI&GI!

Yeah, I liked it too ....

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Thanks guys. Firm believer, kill it n grill it. We live off game in my home. Screw all the store bought, steroid induced, over priced meats at the local market. You gotta earn it before you burn it!!!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Mercruiser outdrive. The outdrive needs a new clutch

clutch dogs?

Your outdrive hasn't a clutch per se, so you might want to verify the diagnosis before buying another drive.

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Well here is the entire problem. I have no forward gear. When I put it in forward, the prop doesn't turn but I can hear a clicking in the lower unit. I dropped the outdrive and took off the lower unit. I removed the prop and turn the shaft, I can hear and feel the clicking in there. I have a schematic of the outdrive and it does list a clutch. When in forward, the prop spins both directions freely and I hear the clicking. When in reverse the prop spins one way and locks up the other but doesn't stay locked up. It locks, then spins, then locks back up. I have been trying to remove the big gear nut in the lower unit so that I can pull the drive shaft but that sucker is locked up. Any ideas would be great.

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

This may help:http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

That does help, thank you. On the lower unit there is a foot sticking up that turns about a quarter of a rotation to shift from forward to reverse. Even when I turn this, the forward drive does not engage and I can still hear the clicking inside. Any thoughts from anyone to help me troubleshoot this clicking that I am hearing?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

On the lower unit there is a foot sticking up that turns about a quarter of a rotation to shift from forward to reverse.

If you turn that shaft all the way clockwise, and turn the prop counterclockwise, the unit should be in forward gear and the prop should lock in place. If it doesn't, then the chances are good your outdrive is toast and you need another.

Yours will have a different length drive shaft than many - make sure you get the right length if you find another outdrive. I second the motion for the Sterndrive unit - the SE106.

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Ok, here is the deal. I was just outside tinkering with it some more. When I turn the shift gear by hand, it doesn't lock into gear and I hear a clicking inside. I put a wrench on the and found that it does turn just a little further than what I can do by hand. It does lock into gear then in forward and in reverse. Does this mean that all I need is to adjust the shifting cables so that it pushes the shift gear all the way to engage? I would cry with happiness if this is the only problem. Of course I already took it all apart, but hey, I'm learning. Now I at least know how it comes apart. lol!!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Of course I already took it all apart, but hey, I'm learning. Now I at least know how it comes apart. lol!!

What have you taken apart? Did you simply separate the upper from the lower? Or have you dismantled it further than that?

You shouldn't have to use a wrench to turn the shift shaft. Unless you have removed the intermediate shaft (with the shoe on it). Are you turning the splined shaft with a wrench or the brass shaft with the "shoe"?

Here's what the splined shaft looks like:

Here's the intermediate shift shaft:

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

I am turning the splined shaft from the top image. I can turn it by hand but it is greasy and I can quite turn it all the way to engage the drive. All I have done is removed the outdrive and then separated the lower unit and removed the prop so far.

 

[achris]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

With the drive in forward gear the prop will lock if you try and turn it BACKWARDS only... In reverse it will lock if you try and turn it FORWARDS only. When in forward, if you turn the prop forward, it should ratchet... Same in reverse, THAT IS NORMAL....

It sounds like you may just have play in the shift system. Wear in the control box and small amounts of play add up to not selecting gears correctly....

Chris.......

 

[Kill it n grill it]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Thank you very much Chris. I think what I will do is put it back together and install back on the boat and play with the cabling adjustments to see if I can get it to work correctly. Any tricks I should know on re-installing the outdrive or with adjusting the cabling?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Yup, there is a definite procedure for that stuff. Take a look through Mercstuff.com or get a manual. if you get it right without instruction it will be a miracle. It ain't that intuitive.

 

[achris]

Re: Old boat, new parts?

Thank you very much Chris. I think what I will do is put it back together and install back on the boat and play with the cabling adjustments to see if I can get it to work correctly. Any tricks I should know on re-installing the outdrive or with adjusting the cabling?

It's all in the manual...