Alpha One lower unit assembly

[79cavarelle]

Thanks in advance for your help. My problem that my buddy and i are having is that we cannot get the lower unit connected back on right. We got it together a number of times but i always have forward and neutral with no reverse or reverse and neutral with no forward. Very frustrating. I have read in every forrum that it has to be in forward gear going back on, which i have tried numerous times but it keeps popping out of gear during installation even if i keep pressure on the prop. Is there something i am missing? What is the reasoning behind putting it in forward gear since i can put it all together in neutral.

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Need more info, Merc, OMC, Volvo...? Whatever you have, sounds like you need a manual, which can be found at the Adults only sticky at the top of the page.

 

[79cavarelle]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Sorry. I have a mercruiser 228

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Did you have the lower unit separated from the upper? If so, sounds like you were off by a spline on the shift shaft when you put it back together. Yeah defiantly the manual.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Need more info, Merc, OMC, Volvo...? Whatever you have, sounds like you need a manual, which can be found at the Adults only sticky at the top of the page.

The title said "Alpha one lower unit assembly" the only extra info really needed is it a Gen 1 or 2?

Answer the generation question and we can be more specific. If it's a gen 2, I know you want it in foward, hold the prop to keep the lower unit in gear and line everything up.

Couple things to look for before you get back with the Gen 1 or 2...water tube lined up correctly? speedometer (gen 2) connection out of the way? Also, you can either turn the gear on the lower unit, or use a breaker bar and slowely turn the engine (either only about an 1/8 of an inch) to ensure the splines are lined up correctly. These are all tips to help it go in.

When its all correct, it should smoothly slide all the way in. And with two people, it should be fairly easy. Easier to do if the entire unit is off, but completely possible if only the lower is off.

 

[79cavarelle]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

it is a gen 1. I have the the tubes lined up and i can actually get it all together with the nuts tight. On generation ones do they have to be in forward for all the splines to line up? After about an 30 min of arguing with my buddy (me saying it does have to be in gear and him saying it doesn't matter). We tried every which way but it kept slipping out in forward, sowe tried it in neutral got it al together and it would go into forward, neutral with no reverse. Dropped it again turned the shift linkage put it back on and had reverse and nuetral but no forward.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

It is easiest to keep everything in forward gear - keep pressure on the prop counterclockwise with a bungee.

It also sounds like you forgot to reinstall the washer pictured below. Easy to do. Won't work without it.

 

[79cavarelle]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

I think u guys probably nailed it, between me having the splines a little off to the washer. I didn't check that but will as soon as i get home. Thanks for the help and i'll update tomorrow after i tinker with it tonight.

 

[nola mike]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

you don't NEED to keep it in forward, but if you don't you may end up with the shift shaft at the wrong angle when you're in gear. no matter what, when you put it back together, you should have fwd/neutral/reverse when you turn the shift shaft 0-->45-->90'. is your problem a) when you shift from the lower (and the case is split) b) only when the case is together c) only when the case is together and the lower unit mounted, and you're using the shifter?

 

[79cavarelle]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

When i put the lower section in gear with pliers it will go into forward, nuetral and reverse. So i think it is alright. My problem is when i combine everything is when it goes weird. everything looks like it is mating up alright with the L shaft going into place into the upper part of the lower unit.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Dont think you should need pliars to change gears with the lower off...should be able to be turned by hand...

Have you tried the recommendations above?

 

[79cavarelle]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

I can turn it by hand but it's a little easier by pliers. And i haven't tried anything yet but all the suggestions will be tried tonight.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Roger, let us know how it goes. Hopefully it works for you!

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

The title said "Alpha one lower unit assembly" the only extra info really needed is it a Gen 1 or 2?

Answer the generation question and we can be more specific. If it's a gen 2, I know you want it in foward, hold the prop to keep the lower unit in gear and line everything up.

Couple things to look for before you get back with the Gen 1 or 2...water tube lined up correctly? speedometer (gen 2) connection out of the way? Also, you can either turn the gear on the lower unit, or use a breaker bar and slowely turn the engine (either only about an 1/8 of an inch) to ensure the splines are lined up correctly. These are all tips to help it go in.

When its all correct, it should smoothly slide all the way in. And with two people, it should be fairly easy. Easier to do if the entire unit is off, but completely possible if only the lower is off.

Sorry, didn't see the header! :redface: I'm blind. Gen 1 needs to be in forward also, and you should be able to turn the shift shaft easily by hand, and the manual sez turn it clockwise for forward gear. I just got done putting my Gen 1 back together without help and its really not that hard if everything goes together smoothly, but definitely easier with 2 people. It's even easier if you have the whole drive off and have it laying on a table. The real fun is putting the whole drive back on!

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Alpha One lower unit assembly

Sorry, didn't see the header! :redface: I'm blind. Gen 1 needs to be in forward also, and you should be able to turn the shift shaft easily by hand, and the manual sez turn it clockwise for forward gear. I just got done putting my Gen 1 back together without help and its really not that hard if everything goes together smoothly, but definitely easier with 2 people. It's even easier if you have the whole drive off and have it laying on a table. The real fun is putting the whole drive back on!

Thanks for the info, I wasnt sure about the Gen 1.

Now OP, howd it go?