Bell Housing Shift Shaft Mystery

[searay3]

1987 4.3LX 205, Ser: ENG..OB778237, TRANS ASSY..OB808723, STERN DRV..OB756003. Looking for the bushings and seal for this shift shaft in the bell housing. (passes thru the exhaust port) Dealer ordered the parts using the ser numbers. Went there because looking at the diagrams online show the bushings the same. Part # 23-814308. Requires two. Seal 26-816464 1 (on the package). Problem is, the upper bushng is smaller than the lower in my unit. The seal is for the larger bushing. So nothing fits. The numbers are accurate per the parts diagrams. We both came up with the same numbers. Looking at the outdrives that ended in 1986, A number III (3) drive appears to use the smaller seal. What are the differences in bell housing on a 1986 drive at the end of its run and the Alpha 1 drive at the beginning of its run? Does a model III drive bellhousing fit the alpha one trans assy? Could the dealer have installed it or did merc do something like that in the transition year from pre alpha to alpha? Need the seal and would like to swap the bush. Anyone run into this before? Also, The boat was my brother in laws in Michigan. He cannot change the oil in his own vehicles so he has never fooled with it. It would have went to the dealer for any kind of service. It has been sitting inside shrink wrapped for all these years. Like in a time capsule. About 60 hrs on it. Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... '86/ '87 is midway through the Alpha 1 years,.....

The MC-1 died in '79 or '80 I believe,......

My best guess is order the parts for the next later serial number range,.....

Ain't run into that exact issue, but Mercs changed alota little things now 'n then, through all the model ranges,....
Serial numbers Usually sort it out, but not always,........

 

[stonyloam]

I think this may be what you want http://www.mercruiserparts.com/805041a2-bushing-kit It is an upgrade to a Gen II type double seal for the Alpha I. It is what I used in my "87".

 

[Fun Times]

Hi there, Did the shift system seem to be leaking?
Possibly a photo of your bell housing might help out some with this issue as it may be possible someone has already installed one of the updated shift Lever and Bushing kits such as part number 45581T1 or the image in stonyloam's link above....If so, then OEM seal 26-8164641 may not fit as the sizes are possibly different between original and updated designs.

Mercruiser now has a new style shift seal for the R, MR and Alpha One?
The shift shaft seal located in the bellhousing would fail and let water into
the shift cable pocket. This water would run up the cable and ruin it.
Open your engine compartment and look at your shift cable attaching plate.
Locate the cable that runs down to the drive and inspect the two side set screws.
These screws lock the core of the cable to the black plastic guide tube.
We sometimes refer to them as the "Frankenstien screws".
They are very small and have square heads.
Do the heads look all rusted?
If they are rusted chances are good that your shift shaft seal in your bellhousing
has failed and has allowed water to syphon up the cable.
Read much more about this at Replacing your Alpha One Shift Cable.

Mercury's solution was to improve the shaft seal design.
They now have a beefy brass bushing assembly which works well.
The Kit includes a new lever and set screw as well.
All you do is knock out the old seal and old guide bushing and tap
the new bushing into place with a little locktight.

45518T1 Bushing and Lever Kit $49.45