Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

[spg0709]

I have a 74' Mercury 1150 sn 3763759. I took off the lower unit and rebuilt the water pump and now I can not get the Lower unit back on. I can only get the lower unit to go to were the bolts on the side of the lower unit are barely showing thru the exhaust housing. It seems like it is stuck on the shift rod. I spent 4 hours trying to get this thing back on, and tried about every postition on the control box and shift rod and that is far as I could get it to go. I have the manual but it is no help at this point. Turned the flywheel trying to get the splines to line up and still nothing. Does anybody know what I am doing wrong becuase according to the manual I should be able to get the two housings to touch together. I got close, but the propeller would only rachet foward in every gear, compared to before I took it off and in netural it would go in both directions, so I figured that was not right.

 

[nativetexantim73]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

First it help if you have two people when installing. Make sure the filler tube is lined up and the shift linkage and then just wiggle the flywheel back and forth slightly. The splines on top of the shaft are tight. Oh and dont put grease on top of the shaft.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

What gear is the control in? Make sure it is the same gear.

 

[spg0709]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

The control box is in forward. Is there anyway to check the lower unit to make sure it is the right gear. It seems like everytime I turn the shift rod, the propeller does the same thing no matter what position it is in, rachets clockwise, but nothing else. The part that the shift rod connects to in the exhaust housing has a plastic retainer holding it in. When I removed the retainer that peice was not aligned straight, and the only it will stay straight is if put a screwdriver thru the retainer and move the peice that shift rod goes into until it aligns with the retainer. Could this be my problem. How do you adjust the upper shift rod so it is straight?

 

[rosentreter]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

I just did this myself today so this will get you through it: Make sure you are in fwd gear on your shifter and your lower unit. If you are in fwd gear on your lower unit you will be able to turn the prop(it will click)clocwise and the shift linkage cam will be to the right(front of the lower unit) looking down on the lower unit with the prop at the bottom(at your feet).

Block your motor so its at a 45 degree angle and sit behind your motor indian style and push the drive shaft up in the whole it is supposed to go. When you get close the wear the water pump tube meets its inlet area (a smaller tube) use your fingers or a screwdrive to line these two up.

When you clear that you might have some resistance when the top of the drive shaft goes into the powerhead. All you have to do is turn the prop counterclocwise ever so slightly to match up the splines. When and wherever you get a chance to put a nut or bolt on do it, turn down on it and then bolt on the nuts.

Tighten down on the lower unit nuts and bolts evenly like putting on lug nuts. Kind of going around and tightening a little each time till you get resistance.

 

[spg0709]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

Allright tried again today. The lower shift rod is what is keeping it from going in all the way. I aligned the splines on the crankshaft and the lower unit moved up about an inch and then stoped.I can see the rod getting pushed up out of the exhaust extension plate when I tighten the bolts on the lower unit. I got the unit on and it would shift to neutral and to forward but nothing else. After checking the shift shaft I could see it was almost rubbing the bottom carb in forward gear, so I took the unit back off.I tried getting it on in every gear and I had the same problem . Is there an easy way to line the shift rod and coupler up? My coupler is kinda beat up, Can you take that the coupler off from the shift rod and replace it. I mean the damn thing was connected on fine before I took it off to change the impeller and now I have spent two days trying to get it back on.
Thanks,
Shane

 

[lincoln31]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

SPG0709,
Did you ever figure this out? I am now dealing with the same thing. I also messed up my coupler by forcing it. Now waiting for a new part. Did you figure it out? Anyone else?

 

[snobear33]

Re: Cant Reinstall Lower Unit 1150 PLEASE HELP

The shift linkage that runs down through the motor in front of the power head is whats causing you issues most likely. You need 2 people, one to handle the lower unit and one to wiggle the shift linkage next to the power head. DON'T for it!! I screwed up my motor big time ! Thank god I had a good boat mech. that could weld aluminum !!! Being a merc., make sure you're in the forward gear too ! Good luck !