FIXED-1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

[system-f]

Thank you guys for all your help, but I am stuck this time. I just installed a water pump in my 1977 Mecrusier Type I drive and once assembling the outdrive we cannot get it to shift into reverse. We have even pulled the drive cable off of the mounting bracket on the transom and tried to manually shift it and it looks like the shoe that is in the top part of the drive is at its limit and the piece that connects into the splines of the shift cable is just lose enough to let the reverse slip. Forward and neutral work fine and cable adjustments are good. I did install the lower leg in forward as the manually specifies, but it looks like there is a metal washer that sits on top of the splined shift shaft that I left out. This boat was going into reverse just fine last weekend and still shifts into reverse by hand when the lower leg is disconnected. Maybe it is just because I left out the metal washer?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

ya gotta have the washer. so yer gonna take it apart again.
assuming your putting the lower back onto the upper that's still attached to the boat. when ya put it back together. be sure the helm remote is in fwd. and more critically, when ya put the lower into fwd. bungee cord the prop loaded into fwd. if you bump it. check it to be sure it's still in fwd. if it slips out of fwd during reassembly, which is easy to happen. you can end up with results like yours where you can't obtain fnr...

also when ya got it apart. you can check to be sure everything works on the bench too prior to reassembly. that way your sure it's capable of operating correctly. if assembled correctly..

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

No biggie, this will be the 10th time to reinstall the lower leg. THe first time I did it F N R worked great, but I forgot the upper o-ring on the driveshaft. Then we were messing with it all night and just as it got dark I saw the washer. I checked the Mecruiser manual and it needs to be there. I just wasn't sure if that would give the extra 1/16" of a inch to fully engage revers (clicks now).

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

I forgot the upper o-ring on the driveshaft.

that one ya coulda left out. i'm running w/o now. on purpose. a new lower drive shaft wont have the slot for that oring. so it must not be needed.. all that slot does best i see it. is give the lower drive shaft a place to shear off at with a prop stike..

since it's yer 10th time reinstalling it. i'm sure yer getting good at it. still painful though i'd guess. least it is for me. and i've done it ten times + myself too. try it on the bench the next time... bet ya put it together proper on the 1st or second try. by yourself. it's much easier on the bench..

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

that one ya coulda left out.

Good, because they just seem to get smashed up in the spline input area. I pulled two old o-rings out of there when i was peaking around at the upper end.

I am guessing that since my drive cable has full range of movement for the upper shoe that leaving the washer out is my whole reason for not getting comletely into reverse? especially since it was working before? I hate to be one of those people that needs reassurance, but I am stuck at work and cannot work on the boat until this evening GRRR! Thanks for your help, Ziggy. It is good to see someone that has similar drive train. I guess I could ask you another question. The boat shop sold me an upper water pump housing that did NOT have the seal in the top where the driveshaft goes through like the one on my drive. I am assuming this housing is for newer alpha 1 drives? or did they get rid of that seal in alter product revisions?

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

The boat shop sold me an upper water pump housing that did NOT have the seal in the top where the driveshaft goes through like the one on my drive. I am assuming this housing is for newer alpha 1 drives? or did they get rid of that seal in alter product revisions?

i can't find my proof right now. darn, it's in a s/m somewheres. but yes, the housing is for newer alpha 1 drives. and yes, they did away with the seal on the water pump housing. only the big, fat, centrifugal slinger washer on the top of the housing. i've been using that type water pump housing for the last i don't know how many water pump impeller changes i've done.. w/o ramification..

I hate to be one of those people that needs reassurance

don't feel that way. that's what this forum is for. i've had much reassurance from many folks here that have helped me a lot. that reassurance sure has made me feel much better in doing a project that i've not done before..

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

i made outdrive stand and have never installed one and it was a breeze to put on i was shocked took 5min. will post pic later today.

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

I guess to recap:

I can move the bottom shift shoe a little to the port side when the cable is in reverse and it will engage) and the able has full range of motion...so the washer missing will cause it not to go into full reverse?

Is there anything else I should look for? Like I said before I installed the lower leg and everything worked, took it off for the o-ring and forgot the washer so it must be the washer.

Also, the Mercrusier factory manual just says a rubber washer and steel washer, but doesn't list the order? I assume it is rubber washer first as it fits into the shift shaft groove and then steel washer on top?

bigskiohio , please do post a picture.

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Well, now I am worse off than when I started. Engine is dying when going into reverse, looks like the cable is pulling on the shift interupt switch somehow somewhy.... I'm really not sure what is going on. I went to my local boat store and asked if they could order a new shift shoe because I thought it was defunct. Maybe my drive cable is old and needs to be replaced? I know that if I pull up on the shift shoe when it is in full reverse it will actually go into full reverse. maybe the rubber bushing needs to be on top of the metal one?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

rubber first, then the washer. What the washer does is prevent the shoe from dropping down out of the upper shoe.
Tripping the switch now may indicate you slipped on the installation
In full fwd the upper shoe is straight, turn the lower splined shaft fully clockwise turning the prop counter untill it locks (try not to move the prop during install) ,raise unit, if driveshat splines wont slip in ,turn prop counterclockwise just a bit till it drops in, align lower shift shoe on splined shaft in a straight line making SURE it mates with the upper when tightening.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A3R3.PDF

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

here is the stand i built on a dolly i had but menards sells some already made cheap. Made it from 2x4s in about 1hr. i measured from ground to top stud hole,mine was 31.5 in.
while trailer was at the bottom of jack travel with about 2in of down travel so i could adjust height with trailer jack. subtracted dolly height,dist. from fin to stud,mine was like 10.in. 5in between uprights.You set it on and start shaft in bearing put in fwd. make sure out drive is in forward turn prop shaft ccw to hold and push on,goes on to about 1/8 in gap ,tighten up to 50 ft lbs. evenly took 5 min. yours would be different height because of different boat and trailer height.

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

I have tried everything and cannot get this thing to take a full reverse. If I put it into reverse and then lift up on the shoe then it will engage to full reverse. At this point I can only fault the drive shift cable. When I adjust the drive cable according to the manual it is too far forward and neutral clicks, then reverse becomes neutral. I have currently begun pulling the entire drive so I can replace the shift cable. The drive has moved 1" and now it is stuck. I have the shifter in forward. Ideas to get it unstuck?

It is actually a bit further forward than this. Yes that is old electrical cord holding the drive, I couldn't find anything else soft:

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Make sure the brass shoes are in a straight line.

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

The shifting shoes?

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

you have shift slider that needs to be on roller with grease , rubber gasket glued in place inside. water oring glued in place, two orings on shaft with grease , shoe on bell needs to be straight, foot in out drive needs to be straight, engine needs to be aligned so test bar goes in with no force at all.
that is alll i did ,same drive. slid right on . sorry i cant be more help feel your pain, leaving for lake sat for a week and i know something will go wrong sometime. i know it doesnt take much movement of the foot to shift gears.

 

[mrflip2]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

I know that when I did mine I was off on the shift shoe I moved it when I had it apart and didn't realize then when I put it on where it mates to the top I was off 2 teeth no reverse unless shifting with full throttle reverse took apart and finally noticed that I wasn't in the4 correct place
I am not sure what it is called but the shifting shoe fits onto a star shaped rod this is what i moved

 

[system-f]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

you have shift slider that needs to be on roller with grease , rubber gasket glued in place inside. water oring glued in place, two orings on shaft with grease , shoe on bell needs to be straight, foot in out drive needs to be straight, engine needs to be aligned so test bar goes in with no force at all.
that is alll i did ,same drive. slid right on . sorry i cant be more help feel your pain, leaving for lake sat for a week and i know something will go wrong sometime. i know it doesnt take much movement of the foot to shift gears.

At this point I am just trying to get the drive off But it would make sense that the shoe is off one or two splines. Now that I have broken the seal on the drive I have to at least pull it off and put new gaskets on.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

let the weight off, i took mine off no hoist ia m guessing you are bound up

 

[Showtime22]

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Re: 1977 Mecruiser Type 1 drive, won't go into reverse

Could the cord tension be holding the tension on. I usually bounce mine and it comes free. Upward tension may be causing the bind. Just a thought.