HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

Chaparralboater

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Jul 8, 2010
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151
i replaced all my bellows and now trying to put my darn outdrive back in. I have it in forward gear as I did when pulling out. I haven't touched a thing. I have about an inch plus for the drive to fit snug. It is NOT going in. I tried kicking it but no avail. I tried to fit things that are being hung up but nothing. What is going on? I on in NC on the coast. So I am trying to beat hurricane earl and pack up shop.
 

a70eliminator

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Sep 9, 2007
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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!!

Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!!

Your assuming we all know what type of drive you have, I've seen your user name quite a few times lately but can't remeber what you have for a drive.
 

Chaparralboater

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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!!

Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!!

sorry. alpha 1 gen 2 mercruiser....3.0 lx. mercruiser eng.
 

Chaparralboater

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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

now the F ing thing wont come off. Is there anyone out there?
 

dingdongs

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May 29, 2009
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649
Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

if you manage to drop it again try rotating prop as entering as this will rotate verticle shaft and align verticle shaft.sometimes an extra pair of hands make it a little easier whilst centering pump tube and shifter spline.if in trouble walk away 4 a few minutes.
 

Friscoboater

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Jul 3, 2009
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3,095
Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

If you kicked it on, now it is jammed. I had a similar problem and had to use a pry bar to get it off. Try wiggling it while pulling.
 

bigdan1

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Aug 9, 2010
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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

I understand your state of panic .....

did you just remove the outdrive at first ....

because maybe your gimball bearing is a little stiff in housing ...it hapenned to me ...had to take dummy shaft to align it back ....then went in easy .

normaly the gimbal bearing is loose in it`s housing ....

I also ( as you)have a 3.0L with an alpha one outdrive .....so ,I know !

did you put grease on the outdrive housing to slip it in ....and as previously said turn the prop at the same time ....to align the splines on both the shaft and engine .....


at last resort , run away from ths region with boat on trailer !
 

Chaparralboater

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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

i greased everything. I have no clue why it wont even come out. It is just stuck in one place. It is about a quarter inch to short to where I can put those 6 bolts back on to tighten it home. I am soo over this. I have no energy left as I used it all to shake, drop and wiggle everything within a 3 foot radius. thanks guys
 

Divecaptchris

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Jan 30, 2009
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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

n ot all that familar with gen 2, but on my gen 1, if u have it that close the splines are already mated, id look at where the shifter arms connect, sounds to me like u have them jammed
 

dubs283

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Jul 27, 2005
Messages
5,332
Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

place a short 2x4 between the front of the top cap and the gimbal ring while lifting up on the drive

by wedging the 2x4 between these places it will pry outward on the drive

comes off every time, just put the coals to it if it is being difficult
 

Chaparralboater

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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

I check those 2 parts and they are almost touching but not really. Part 8 can turn and move freely while part 8 wont turn at all. I am confused. LOL...I might just take it to a dealer
 

thumpar

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6,138
Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

Did you use the alignment tool to check things before trying to put it back on? Did you make sure the outdrive was still in forward?
 

Chaparralboater

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

No and maybe..I can still move and see the end of the shift cable thing on the right of the outdrive if that means anything
 

steddy

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Jun 6, 2009
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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

Easy there, killer... easy. I was in the same "boat" earlier this month. put the drive shaft in just a little, get it started on the studs. Lay on your back, looking at the shift cable. Look just below that, you'll see where a little part on the outdrive has turned (I don't know what it's called), not allowing it to slide on the way it's supposed to. These are the exact same problems I had... kicking & screaming included. Literally. Just look at it very carefully. You shouldn't need to force anything.
 

Divecaptchris

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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

well not knowing the whole story of what u have done to the boat while u have had it apart makes it hard to say. You should keep the unit in forward turn the prop a little to make the splines match and then mate the shifter, some of them are a bear! some of them slip right on, take a deep breath, have a beer, and go back at it with a fresh eye!
 

Chaparralboater

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Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

well I just can seem to get it off. I am going to sleep it off and relax for the night. and get a fresh start tomorrow morning. The storm should hit about 5pm tomorrow so I should get a couple hours of cranking. It shouldn't be too hard I am just tired, cranky and probably not looking at the right things. Thanks guys again for the fast responses.
 

Don S

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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

You need an alignment bar to check the alignment before you even think of trying to put the drive on again.
 

paparoof

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Apr 22, 2010
Messages
730
Re: HELP...outdrive not going in !!! PLEASE GOD...hurry

Just came across this while researching for my own project. Don't know if it'll help, but what the heck.

Good luck and I hope the storm totally misses you.

If you encounter problems in pulling off the drive in step 6 above.

If it wouldn't come off, there are several tricks to remove it. They are listed below in order of difficulty.

1) Try a piece of wood or metal across the two ears at the bottom of the ring, lift and drop the unit on it.

2) Try a piece of wood or metal between the cap front and ring, then lift the unit up to hit it.

3) Last resort, jam a piece of wood between cap and ring, put the rams back on and trim up.

All of the above steps help push the unit outward and off. If the problem is that the gimbal bearing has become stuck on the shaft, (a common problem) the bearing might still be there when the unit comes free
 
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