Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Terry,
Ok, got it and you mean seals in that the black rubber deals inside?

How do you get the bushings out and then install them? Do I need a special tool or is there a way to do it with out having the special tool?

DD

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Terry,
Ok, got it and you mean seals in that the black rubber deals inside?

How do you get the bushings out and then install them? Do I need a special tool or is there a way to do it with out having the special tool?

DD

You got it!

You drive the old ones out and drive the new ones in. Autozone will lend you a bushing driver tool set for free. Apply Loctite 27131 O.D. of bushing. Good luck

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Thanks...However, I didn't read this until after I had knocked out the other bushings and reinstalled the new ones. Will it be a big issue and how do I fix it if I already installed without lock tite?

The new bushing for the green arrow from the picture previous does not go all the way up because the housing is round and the bigger part doesn't allow it. I was wondering if I should put an oil seal in the little space at the top underneath the plastic washer of the shift arm?

DD

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

One other question and please forgive me for asking so many questions. The manuals are vague and the parts are in pieces.

I received the picture you see here along with my shift shaft cable assembly kit. It says nothing about this in the literature. I got a GLM shift cable assembly and they sent me a tap for the housing to put the new shift cable sleeve into on the bell housing. Has anyone used this? How?

I seemed to have seen a printout of a lower drive unit where it showed the areas to put 2-4-c, spline grease, lube 101, lock tite, marine grease....I would like to have this type of picture for the whole engine if you guys know where to find it.

Thanks again.

DD

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Oops...Picture of the above mentioned item.

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

I read somewhere on an older post that the tap I purchased from mercstuff is the npt....I have searched for an NPS and no luck. Any ideas?

I am fixing to run the shift cable and I am glad I read that before doing the job. I did purchase the tap from mercstuff. Is there a way to modify and trying to follow the directions to 4 threads this etc... is rough.

Thanks for any help.

DD

 

[ziggy]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

that tap is a stright tap. w/npt threads, but straight. be sure glm didn't provide you with a real npt. that is not what ya want. (edit, unless they changed their tune from when they sold me one, the wrong one)
mercruiser will sell you a proper tap for the project. they are not the norm.

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

I'm looking at the tap right now. How would I tell if it is the correct one. All taps look a little tapered.

I just purchased this last week.

DD

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Does anyone recognize this part that came with shift cable assembly?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

I'm looking at the tap right now. How would I tell if it is the correct one. All taps look a little tapered.

I just purchased this last week.

DD

The mercruiser tap does not taper, NPT taps create taper threads, the last 4 or 5 threads will cut deeper and cause the taper. Guess if it's long enough you can use it but keep it away from the end where it tapers or it may create a loose thread and leak water.

That pic is of a grommet that is in the transom area to protect the cable as it passes inside the boat so it doesn't chafe, if you old one is there it's probably ok but easy to change, just tough to reach

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

The mercruiser tap does not taper, NPT taps create taper threads,

That pic is of a grommet that is in the transom area to protect the cable as it passes inside the boat so it doesn't chafe, if you old one is there it's probably ok but easy to change, just tough to reach

Please forgive me then for asking so many questions, but with the one I have it was to go with the shift cable assembly i purchased at the same time. Should I try to find a mercruiser tap and then use the shift cable assembly i have? I am really confused now. The tap came in a little blue box that says spt-1/4-18 so if I'm hearing you correctly then it is the wrong tap?

DD

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

I just looked at their site, it is a regular npt tap not nps. They are telling you to butt the taper end on the tap to the bellhousing, which is about 4-threads showing. any deeper and the thread will become tapered.

http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Mercruiser Service manual #6 page-4A-17 shows ther Mercruiser tap Quicksilver# 91-95639. If Mercstuff is telling you to use that tap i guess it has been done before but be careful how deep it goes in.

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

I just looked at their site, it is a regular npt tap not nps. They are telling you to butt the taper end on the tap to the bellhousing, which is about 4-threads showing. any deeper and the thread will become tapered.

http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm

Right, but it is vague at that. I am visual so I am including another picture. I have circled in blue the shift cable area so please disregard the red and green arrows.

Will I go in with the tap from the side you are looking at or will I go in from transom side? Also, when they say to butt the taper end on the tap to bellhousing what do they really mean? 4 threads showing on the side I'm going in from or 4 threads showing on opposite side?

I think I really understand, but I don't want to screw anything up!
DD

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

You only need to tap the hole if the old cable threaded in from the front side of the boat. (transom end)

All the new cables thread in from the back(aft). That pic shows the back of the bellhousing which is how the new cable will enter it. the nut will be on this end.

The old style the threads did not go deep enough into the hole to allow you to now thread the cable from the back so you have to chase the thread thru it to now thread it the opposite was of the old cable. they want you to leave 4-threads not into the bellhousing (exposed). don't know how long it will stick out the back side hopefully enough to get it done.

The idea is to follow the existing threads to extend them to the aft end, if you start at the aft end the threads might not align and become crossed.

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

You only need to tap the hole if the old cable threaded in from the front side of the boat. (transom end)

All the new cables thread in from the back(aft). That pic shows the back of the bellhousing which is how the new cable will enter it. the nut will be on this end.

The old style the threads did not go deep enough into the hole to allow you to now thread the cable from the back so you have to chase the thread thru it to now thread it the opposite was of the old cable. they want you to leave 4-threads not into the bellhousing (exposed). don't know how long it will stick out the back side hopefully enough to get it done.

The idea is to follow the existing threads to extend them to the aft end, if you start at the aft end the threads might not align and become crossed.

Ok..so again I am visual and I included a picture or two.

I have included the old shift cable and the new shift cable and as you can see they look similar. That would tell me that I am not going to have to tap the hole, correct?

Now, the second picture for posterity would be of the tap with tape up to the 4th thread of which I would have to tap to in order to make the hole the correct size if it already wasn't, correct?

So it looks as though I am good to go with installing the cable without tapping it?


You guys are really wonderful, thanks.

DD

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Cables look the same to me, I'd say you are good to go.

that's looks correct on the tap but doesn't look like you need it.

If the drive is older, it is possible someone before you already tapped it to be on the aft side, when that "old" cable was installed.

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Cables look the same to me, I'd say you are good to go.

that's looks correct on the tap but doesn't look like you need it.

If the drive is older, it is possible someone before you already tapped it to be on the aft side, when that "old" cable was installed.

Cool...Here I go!

Will keep updated, I'm sure you guys are loving that.

DD

 

[CaptainDucky]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Ok, so we got everything put back together and we cannot get the cable shaft adjustment to go right. I push on the cable and the helper turns the prop counterclockwise and it just keeps spinning. I can pull on the cable and the prop will lock in gear. I have the throttle put into forward gear. Is there a chance somehow it got into reverse? I do not want to take the outdrive off again if I can keep from it. If I have to take the outdrive off then do you think the gasket will be ok that I just put on?

Please help...Everything was going so well.

DD

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Closer Look at Bell Housing and Shift Cable

Hi, I had this same issue, Mercruiser manual says in so many words... If it still wont shift you need to recheck & correct the 4 threads you left showing when you put the shift cable in. You probably need to detach the shift cable inside the boat and tighten the cable end at the bellhousing another part of a turn. Run it in to the exact requirement in the guide, I believe it is 4 threads showing but check. When the cable end isn't far enough into the bellhousing it interferes with the shift fork travel, that's your problem.
Oh yes, definitely use a new gasket if the existing one has any questions. Ounce of prevention.