Installing the OD

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

Are u saying that the drive is an inch from the studs? If so it sounds like the alignment is still off. If you're sure that it's spot on did u oil the o-rings, & how much grease is on the driveshaft splines? Too much grease will cause the shaft to lock up. If the drive is partly onto the studs, try drawing it in with the nuts. Just tighten the nuts EVENLY all around.

I don't think there is too much grease on the spline but will remove a little anyway. I can't measure it but the studs are maybe 1/4 - 1/2 inch from actually going thru the pivot. I think the coupler is not aligning with the housing it fits into. Does the coupler, the piece the u-joints are in, go into the housing without any real room because its as though when I am trying to push the drive it must be going in on the slightest angle. I hope this explantion makes sense.

 

[MRS]

Re: Installing the OD

I just did my 86 cobra 4.3 have outdrive hanging on a motor hoist and could not get back on. Not till I took a rope and got the back of the outdrive tied up to the hoist to make the outdrive level hanging on the hoist. Plus grease the Cr*@ out of the bellows and the collar that house's the u-joints gave a little twist with a screw diver and when it go's falls in by it self. I had worked at it for 2 1/2 hr.s when I decided to try leveling the outdrive I know your pain brother been there...

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Installing the OD

The u joints are pretty snug in the bellows.. That's why in the manual is says to put some grease on the ujoint coupler.. You should use oil on those orings.. Still yet as much as you are fighting it I wouldn't say the grease is holding it up...

Is you alignment spot on like this? I know this is a merc but the same rules go with the OMC as far as alignment goes.. Does yout tool bottom out like the one in the video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdCitsa_QIE

Also.. was everything rusty in there? Did water intrude the bellows? Was it salt water.. Man rust can make things hang up... What bellows kit did you install?

Don't let it **** you off.. Get frustrated... Step away for a second.. You don't wanta drop that thing on your toe cause you are pissed off...

I use the trailer jack to get the boat level with the outdrive as I can.. I slide the outdrive on a piece of plywood.. Stick the shaft in there.. get everything pretty close and stick a screw driver in the ujoints and turn em tell stuff mates up.. I can install it in less than 15 min.. Takes me longer to scrape off the old gasket than installing the outdrive.. It not wanting to come off makes me scratch my head... Something isn't right..

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Installing the OD

I don't think there is too much grease on the spline but will remove a little anyway. I can't measure it but the studs are maybe 1/4 - 1/2 inch from actually going thru the pivot. I think the coupler is not aligning with the housing it fits into. Does the coupler, the piece the u-joints are in, go into the housing without any real room because its as though when I am trying to push the drive it must be going in on the slightest angle. I hope this explantion makes sense.

Smear some gear oil around the collar & the inside of the bellows. And u must get the collar to line up straight with the bellows so the shaft will line up with the gimbal bearing. It sounds to me like you don't have it lined up & the shaft is bumping into the gimbal bearing.

 

[HCMQA]

Re: Installing the OD

It says in the shop manual not to use grease on the o rings as it will cause a form of hydra lock and will not let the shaft all the way in. Too much grease on the splines will cause the same thing. Especially if the coupler is full of grease already.

Also in the shop manual you must grease the u joint carrier bearing housing bevel because it slide inside of the bellows and tightens it up.

I am telling you once it is lined up splines and all it will go in like butter.

Keep at it.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

Are u saying that the drive is an inch from the studs? If so it sounds like the alignment is still off. If you're sure that it's spot on did u oil the o-rings, & how much grease is on the driveshaft splines? Too much grease will cause the shaft to lock up. If the drive is partly onto the studs, try drawing it in with the nuts. Just tighten the nuts EVENLY all around.

I would have tried that, but the studs are not quite coming thru. They are just about getting started. I have tried greasing, degreasing, shaking, and everything else I could think of. At least with peoples help I was able, for the first time, easily change bellows, gimbal, and u joints. The easiest part, or so I thought just won't happen. I am going to a local shop tomorrow. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

Cobra OD. Removed and serviced and now can't get it on. Any ideas? The alignment tool goes in pretty easy although its tough to pull out. A friend thought it wsas suction from the grease. The OD goes almost all the way on and then hangs up just as the bolts are about to slide thru the OD. Any help will be MUCH appreciated. and thank you in advance.

I tried everyones suggestions. With the help of another thread I was able to change bellows, gimbal, and u -joints. First time and it all went well until the easiest part. The drive is hanging up on something that is either end of the shaft or the coupler around the u joints. The easiest part and unfortunatley for me a nightmare. Everything else went smooth as silk. My son has talked me into giving up and bringing it to a shop. Now I know I am not the little engine that could, but I got close. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Installing the OD

I had the same problem as you once. The problem was that when you try to put the drive on (especially by yourself) if you don't get the shaft into the coupler then it is really easy to move the gimbal bearing. If the gimbal bearing gets moved its near impossible to get the shaft in.

Have you checked the alignment after you try to put the drive on? Was the gimbal bearing moved? Moved as in when you have to smack the alignment tool on all four sides to straighten it?


I dunno, worth a shot telling you though as thats what happened to me.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

Smear some gear oil around the collar & the inside of the bellows. And u must get the collar to line up straight with the bellows so the shaft will line up with the gimbal bearing. It sounds to me like you don't have it lined up & the shaft is bumping into the gimbal bearing.

I thought the same thing and maybe thats so but if you can imagine where the drive butts up against the pivot housing its only 1" from all the way. Thats why I think the shaft is already in the gimbal. The next thing that I thought of was the coupler not going in perfectly to the housing. If thats the case I can't figure out how to perfectly align the shaft and the ujoints to allow the coupler to line up.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Installing the OD

Gee, I hate to see u take it to a shop but it's your call. If u want to give it 1 more shot, you have to somehow get the u-joint shaft into the gimbal bearing then shove it home into the coupler. Another set of hands is a big help. If u let go of the drive does it hang there? If so, your into the coupler.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

It says in the shop manual not to use grease on the o rings as it will cause a form of hydra lock and will not let the shaft all the way in. Too much grease on the splines will cause the same thing. Especially if the coupler is full of grease already.

Also in the shop manual you must grease the u joint carrier bearing housing bevel because it slide inside of the bellows and tightens it up.

I am telling you once it is lined up splines and all it will go in like butter.

Keep at it.

I don't understand what you mean it slides inside the bellows and tightens up. As I take the drive and begin entering the shaft it goes in fine and holding so the ujoints line up is also fine. I can tell by the amount it goes in the shaft is getting to the gimbal. If aligned the ujoints don't touch the bellow. They spin inside it. I di greas the housing thinking it would slip in but no luck. I think God is testing me and hes winning. I should also say that there is a little grease on the orings but i don't think enough to prevent it from going in. Whatever it is I know its simple and right in front of my face, but has me stumped.

 

[MRS]

Re: Installing the OD

Are you lifting by hand or do you have on a stand or hoist.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Installing the OD

I've r+r'd mine a few times and here are a couple of tips....
one is that you have to get the pivot housing straight up and down as much as you can, and get the drive at the same height as the pivot housing.
the other is, if you try and it wont' go in, you have to pull it out and re-align the gimble bearing with the alignment tool. If you knock the bearing out of alignment with the tip of the driveshaft, it'll never go in.
What I did one time when it fought me, was to roll my floor jack over, and lift my drive cart just a little bit up, then it went right on. So matching the height of the drive, to the height of the pivot housing, and getting the gimble bearing in correct alignment, both help a LOT...

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Installing the OD

I've r+r'd mine a few times and here are a couple of tips....
one is that you have to get the pivot housing straight up and down as much as you can, and get the drive at the same height as the pivot housing.
the other is, if you try and it wont' go in, you have to pull it out and re-align the gimble bearing with the alignment tool. If you knock the bearing out of alignment with the tip of the driveshaft, it'll never go in.
What I did one time when it fought me, was to roll my floor jack over, and lift my drive cart just a little bit up, then it went right on. So matching the height of the drive, to the height of the pivot housing, and getting the gimble bearing in correct alignment, both help a LOT...

Amen brotha

And then when I try to wiggle it I have to pry it out

Pry out the drive??If so.. That's not right.. It's binding up on something? Did you have to pry it off to get it off the first time?
Where did you buy the bellow kit?

 

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

It says in the shop manual not to use grease on the o rings as it will cause a form of hydra lock and will not let the shaft all the way in. Too much grease on the splines will cause the same thing. Especially if the coupler is full of grease already.

Also in the shop manual you must grease the u joint carrier bearing housing bevel because it slide inside of the bellows and tightens it up.

I am telling you once it is lined up splines and all it will go in like butter.

Keep at it.

Somethin I didn't mention earlier is that I am not using a hoist. Looking at it for a long while this morning I thought if its on a hoist maybe it would be easier than trying to muscle it to keep it absolutely level. In that way I can wiggle it and the ujoints won't move. My thought is that since the joints can move up, down, and side ways they only need to be off 1 or 2 mils and the coupler won't go into the housing. Does that make sense? If not its off to the shop so they make $100 in less than 2minutes.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Installing the OD

For sure if you built a cart, and made it so that you could precisely lift it with either a floor jack, or a scissors jack, it would MUCH easier.
You could make a really deluxe outdrive installer, out of a motorcycle jack and a couple of 4x4s to extend out a platform from the jack to hold the drive. Pump it up and you're there...that's my next project, if I stick with I/Os...

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Installing the OD

Somethin I didn't mention earlier is that I am not using a hoist. Looking at it for a long while this morning I thought if its on a hoist maybe it would be easier than trying to muscle it to keep it absolutely level. In that way I can wiggle it and the ujoints won't move. My thought is that since the joints can move up, down, and side ways they only need to be off 1 or 2 mils and the coupler won't go into the housing. Does that make sense? If not its off to the shop so they make $100 in less than 2minutes.

Just wondering, did u remove the 1/2" hex bolts from the pivot housing? If u did that may be why you're having a hard time lining it up. With that pivot housing flopping around, you'll never get it in. May be a dumb question. If so, sorry.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Installing the OD

Just wondering, did u remove the 1/2" hex bolts from the pivot housing? If u did that may be why you're having a hard time lining it up. With that pivot housing flopping around, you'll never get it in. May be a dumb question. If so, sorry.

The only question in life that is dumb is an unasked one. If you don't know you'll never know if you don't ask. To answer your question, the nut is in place. I am convinced with a jack or a hoist to steady it I will get it in. Tooooo hot today so will wait til later or tomorrow. Or, its off to the shop.

 

[HCMQA]

Re: Installing the OD

The drive bearing housing for the drive shaft is beveled so that when the drive is on it holds the bellows tight. This must be greased and with new bellows it may be stiff.

Get the grease out of the o rings. It only takes a little to hydra lock it.

Yes the drive shaft is going through the gimbal but my bet is that the splines are not properly aligned with the coupler on the fly wheel. The end of the drive shaft will feel like it is in the coupler but it is not lined up right and too much grease can also cause it to go in crooked.

That drive shaft with u joints is what? close to 12" plus long so if it is off at the u joint that translates to a lot off at the coupler.

You dont need a lift or the shop to do it. Just picture the drive shaft in a straight line. Use a long skinny screw driver to turn and level the u joints until it goes in.

Be careful not to break the grease zerks in the u joints and not to tear the gasket for the drive.

Once all of it is lined up you will be shocked how easy it goes in.

 

[MRS]

Re: Installing the OD

The only question in life that is dumb is an unasked one. If you don't know you'll never know if you don't ask. To answer your question, the nut is in place. I am convinced with a jack or a hoist to steady it I will get it in. Tooooo hot today so will wait til later or tomorrow. Or, its off to the shop.

seth, sorry do not have a better photo but this is hooked up to a motor hoist you need to remove the dip stick in the top and replace with a I call a eye hook that screws in and hook the chain thur. From here is where I tied a rope on the back of outdrive to level it helped a ton.