Installing stern drive help

[nutnutscoop]

First of all, I am a first time poster, long time lurker and appreciate everyone's help so far. From seized engines, to fly wheel replacement, your help is very appreciated.

I have a 93 mercruiser 4.3 LX alpha one. I just replaced the flywheel because I chipped some teeth when trying to start it when the engine was seized. I had to remove the stern drive to lift engine and replace flywheel. Now the engine is installed, ready to retest, and now I am stuck. I have the mercruiser shop manual and when I removed the stern drive it instructed me to remove the stern drive with the drive engaged in forward. Now that I have installed it (everything went easy until now). I can not get the stern drive in neutral. Obviously i have the shift aligned incorrectly, but I can not no matter what I do get it to work. I have taken off and realigned the shift numerous times, and now I am ready to put it down like Old Yeller. My question is...What are some tricks when installing the stern drive to get the shift coupler lined up. I am very frustrated now.

 

[BigBK]

Re: Installing stern drive help

1st question is did you take he drive apart?
If not, Then when u reinstall it make sue the shift lever at the helm is in forward. that should alien the two pc at the shift foot to alien. and hope all works as should.
Next question is did you have to remove the shift cables from the engine?
If so, make sure they are adjusted correctly.

 

[nutnutscoop]

Re: Installing stern drive help

I did remove the shift cables, but I removed the entire plate they are mounted on not to disrupt their actual position. With the stern drive removed I can put it neutral, reverse anywhere I want it, but once the stern drive is installed I can not put it in neutral. The shifter is in forward when I install the stern drive

 

[BigBK]

Re: Installing stern drive help

Is it stuck in forward or reverse? Or when u move the shifter lever at the helm is it hard to move? may be a kinked or stuck shift cable.
Or can you move the shifter easily? and put the drive in forward and reverse?

 

[nutnutscoop]

Re: Installing stern drive help

When the stern drive is removed, I can easily move the shift cable in all directions. The stern drive is stuck in forward. The shop manual instructs to put the stern drive in forward when removing the the stern drive, and there it remains.

I dont think it is a shift cable issue, because the shifter readily shifts in all directions when the stern drive is removed.

 

[fuzzybob]

Re: Installing stern drive help

Helm in forward, pull the drive, put the drive in forward and rotate the prop counter clockwise till it is engaged then put a bungee on it to hold tension so it won't slip out of gear while you put the drive on. You may have to turn the prop a little ccw to engage the splines. Good luck

 

[BigBK]

Re: Installing stern drive help

If the helm shifter moves freely with the drive off ( Both the upper and lower shift cables) And the shift foot on the outdrive goes in forward, neut, and reverse while it is off them my guess would be the foot and shoe are not going together properly The foot should slide into the shoe (facing forward)
farely easily.

 

[jtybt]

Re: Installing stern drive help

Exactly as fuzzy said.

One thing to check...that the 'foot'(shift lever coming up from the lower drive is pointing exactly forward. It is splined and can get a spline or two off.

 

[nutnutscoop]

Re: Installing stern drive help

The foot and shoe are going together pretty easily. Once it is installed it is like when I move the helm control it is stuck like the shift lever is hitting something.

How is the shift lever splined? It appears to be a solid piece of metal. that is attached to the shift cable.

When moving the prop counterclockwise how can you tell it is engaged. When I move the prop, It moves freely then there is a click

 

[fuzzybob]

Re: Installing stern drive help

Sounds like you have it in reverse insted of forward. In forward the prop should lock when turned ccw and ratchet when turned cw. When in reverse it's just the opposite.

 

[jtybt]

Re: Installing stern drive help

Turning prop in forward gear COUNTER CLOCKWISE will lock the forward gears and not turn. Putting a bungee cord to hold the blade in position in the locked position will keep the foot in the forward position. The foot will only turn to forward when the drive gears are in forward. The foot out of position will rotate either past or less than the forward position.

The foot is hollow with internal splines the shift shaft has outside splines.


Ya know, sounds like you don't have the slide(with the prongs). in the bell housing engaging the lever with the wheel

 

[nutnutscoop]

Re: Installing stern drive help

so when i lock it in position it allows the foot to lock into the wheel? I will try this and get back to you

FWIW, when in forward the engine will rotate in the CCW position. It did this before I removed the stern drive.

 

[nutnutscoop]

Re: Installing stern drive help

The more I thought about, I do not remember which way it ratcheted vs locked. Is it possible the stern drive engaged in reverse when I had it off, and if so what can I do if it is in reverse?

 

[cr2k]

Re: Installing stern drive help

With the drive off and standing on the fin (upright) tilt forward about 40 degrees or so. This will make the internal shifting go in to forward gear. Turn prop CCW to engage dogs. If shift foot on front of lower is not facing forward you will have to pull it up and realign it facing forward.

Forward is forward. slightly ccw (to port) is neutral more ccw is reverse.
In other words on the drive foot facing forward is as far clockwise as it should go. It shouldn't rotate to the starboard at all.

 

[nutnutscoop]

Re: Installing stern drive help

Is it possible that the lower unit shifted to reverse while it was off and that is my problem?