Shifter is turning the upper shift shaft when put in forward or reverse.

S

Sundancer33

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2022
Messages
15
I put the shifter in forward gear and took the outdrive off. It wasn't easy to do, but it was my first time. Then I noticed the groove I the shift shaft was facing to the side, and now when I move the shifter nothing moves at the bell housing. The starboard drive is still on the boat and when I put it in gear the prop spins freely. I didn't disconnect anything inside the boat.some advice would be greatly appreciated
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,097
Sundancer33 said:
I put the shifter in forward gear and took the outdrive off. It wasn't easy to do, but it was my first time. Then I noticed the groove I the shift shaft was facing to the side, and now when I move the shifter nothing moves at the bell housing. The starboard drive is still on the boat and when I put it in gear the prop spins freely. I didn't disconnect anything inside the boat.some advice would be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Is the bellcrank aligned with the cable connector,..??
 
flashback

flashback

Captain
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
3,987
It's the arm on the upper end of the shift shaft. It has a roller on it that engages with the cable connector. It can dis engage on it's own quite easily while installing the drive.
 
S

Sundancer33

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2022
Messages
15
flashback said:
It's the arm on the upper end of the shift shaft. It has a roller on it that engages with the cable connector. It can dis engage on it's own quite easily while installing the drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the welcome. I'll be at the boat tomorrow. I think it is, because I can't spin the upper s.s. to put the groove in position for installing the drive
 
D

dubs283

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,333
In both pictures you've posted neither show the shift shaft in the bell housing to be properly oriented to remove/install the drive. The bottom fork portion of the shaft needs to be oriented straight fore/aft for the drive removal/installation.

A standard rotation alpha style drive must be in fwd gear both at the helm and the drive/bell housing for removal/install. Counter rotated drives must be in reverse gear, above criteria the same. This is of course with all associated shifting mechanisms in sound order

You should shift the helm control both forward and reverse, inspecting both times individually to note the orientation of the shift shaft. If you are not achieving the straight fore/aft alignment then there may be an issue with the shifting mechanism between the bell housing and helm shifter control
 
S

Sundancer33

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2022
Messages
15
dubs283 said:
In both pictures you've posted neither show the shift shaft in the bell housing to be properly oriented to remove/install the drive. The bottom fork portion of the shaft needs to be oriented straight fore/aft for the drive removal/installation.

A standard rotation alpha style drive must be in fwd gear both at the helm and the drive/bell housing for removal/install. Counter rotated drives must be in reverse gear, above criteria the same. This is of course with all associated shifting mechanisms in sound order

You should shift the helm control both forward and reverse, inspecting both times individually to note the orientation of the shift shaft. If you are not achieving the straight fore/aft alignment then there may be an issue with the shifting mechanism between the bell housing and helm shifter control
Click to expand...
You are correct. The shifter was forward when drive was taken off and I know now that was wrong and I can't move it by hand nor does the shifter move it at all
 
Scott06

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,775
Sundancer33 said:
You are correct. The shifter was forward when drive was taken off and I know now that was wrong and I can't move it by hand nor does the shifter move it at all
Click to expand...
Might have bent the swivel shaft

would disconnect the lower shift cable at the shift plate see if it moves feely both with the swivel shaft connected and disconnected. That should narrow down where the hang up is.

There are an upper and lower set of bushings in the bellhousing and a upper seal set in there that may be gunked up. I think your upper is the original design that was super ceded. If that shaft doesn't swivel freely you wont be able to shift, suspect since the drive =was forced off you may have bent the shaft below the bellhousing maybe binding it in the bsuhing

Should be able to take the upper lever off and push the shaft down easily. Roll shaft on a table edge you will see if it wobbles can probably straighten in V blocks in a press
 
S

Sundancer33

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2022
Messages
15
Scott06 said:
Might have bent the swivel shaft

would disconnect the lower shift cable at the shift plate see if it moves feely both with the swivel shaft connected and disconnected. That should narrow down where the hang up is.

There are an upper and lower set of bushings in the bellhousing and a upper seal set in there that may be gunked up. I think your upper is the original design that was super ceded. If that shaft doesn't swivel freely you wont be able to shift, suspect since the drive =was forced off you may have bent the shaft below the bellhousing maybe binding it in the bsuhing

Should be able to take the upper lever off and push the shaft down easily. Roll shaft on a table edge you will see if it wobbles can probably straighten in V blocks in a press
Click to expand...
Thanks, you know your stuff. It was operator error. My shifter works both the throttle and the drive,so I always push the cable release button and set the choke before start up. That's what I did this time(it's been a long winter lol). The drive was actually in neutral I don't think I hurt anything it's working as it should. I was taking the drive off, because it was leaking gear lube. I've replaced the bushings for the shift shaft and water pump in the lower. Thanks! for your help with that. Should I paint the mounting surfaces? I'm in freshwater. When I had the drive of I noticed the coolant hose was kinked, so I put a 1" 90 in the line. I was wondering if the 90 would restrict water flow? The bellows look good and I heard they can be a p.i.t.a. to replace. It was a p.i.t.a. splicing that 90 in there
 

Attachments

  • 20220630_105533.jpg
    20220630_105533.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 4
S

Sundancer33

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2022
Messages
15
Scott06 said:
Might have bent the swivel shaft

would disconnect the lower shift cable at the shift plate see if it moves feely both with the swivel shaft connected and disconnected. That should narrow down where the hang up is.

There are an upper and lower set of bushings in the bellhousing and a upper seal set in there that may be gunked up. I think your upper is the original design that was super ceded. If that shaft doesn't swivel freely you wont be able to shift, suspect since the drive =was forced off you may have bent the shaft below the bellhousing maybe binding it in the bsuhing

Should be able to take the upper lever off and push the shaft down easily. Roll shaft on a table edge you will see if it wobbles can probably straighten in V blocks in a press
Click to expand...
Sundancer33 said:
You are correct. The shifter was forward when drive was taken off and I know now that was wrong and I can't move it by hand nor does the shifter move it at all
Click to expand...
Thank you, because of what I did before pushing shifter forward, it was actually still in neutral when I yanked the drive. Shifters are working as they should
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top