Last minute question after bellows job and shift cable repair

[Campfire]

Hey guys,

I just reinstalled my sterndrive on my 1973 Cobalt. It’s a pre-alpha drive. From what I can tell, it slid on easily. I have the shift feet lined up and they mated properly. I put new gear fluid in via the drain plug until it came out the vent screw.

The thing that has me worried is that the propellor spins freely with the shifter in drive. When I was installing the sterndrive, the propellor was “locked” if the intermediate shift shaft was pointed directly at the transom.

Additionally, with the boat on the trailer and the engine not running (I haven’t tested anything yet, was waiting to drop it in the water on the trailer), I can shift into forward and neutral but I cannot shift into reverse. I can see the shift linkage on the transom moving. I installed the shift cable with a 5 7/8” space center to center.

Why won’t it shift into reverse? I’ve never worked on boats before until this one and this bellows, water shutter, water pocket, impeller and housing, intermediate shift shaft, thermostat job was a learning experience. I just don’t know what I don’t know. Is this normal for the prop to spin freely? I thought I remember it spinning freely only in one direction.

 

[Rick Stephens]

You don't say so, but you split the cases and didn't keep everything in forward gear when you reassembled. Gotta pull it apart again and get that part lined up. Lower needs to be in forward and shift shoe facing forward when you attach upper to lower.

 

[Campfire]

Thanks Rick. I already fixed that issue/mistake yesterday but excellent advice. It is definitely cable adjustment issue now as forward is 12 o’clock, neutral is 10:30 and reverse is 9 o’clock when looking at the shift shoe. I can now get full throw on the shifter/throttle. It grinds going into gear for forward and reverse but not when coming out of gear. I’m at exactly 5 7/8” on the measurement. I’m very familiar with bicycle adjustments. Is there a specific adjustment on the shift cable adjustments (3) that resolves this momentary grinding while engaging forward and/or reverse? It feels like the exact same amount of grinding in both forward and reverse. Not horrible but concerning.

On the plus side, I had it running on muffs for 10 minutes and all temps looked good! Thanks to all of you that gave me guidance on this deep dive into my first work on a boat. If I can get rid of this grinding, she’s going for sea trials.

 

[Rick Stephens]

The rule is shift quickly into gear. They all. Slower you shift, more they grind.

 

[Campfire]

Rick,

I water tested the boat today. No leaks and once the boat was in the water, the grinding was faaaar less noticeable. Thanks for the words of ecouragement and advice. It’s 1973 all over again on the Chain ;-)