merc 888 shift shaft link

[Ted K]

After rebuilding my water pump, I attempt to re-attach the gear case to drive shaft housing. Shift in forward, gear case in forward. The coupler that you slide shift shaft up into drive shaft housing has up/down play in it and must be held up for it to engage. So when lifting the gear case up, the splines fit in fine but then the coupler does not seat properly and I have found no way to seat it first and then attach gear case. (Does anyone follow me yet or have this issue?) With gear case removed, I can push it up and it will seat with a little turn but once the case is raised up the re is no way to turn it to get it to seat.

 

[achris]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

Put a dob of grease on the top of the intermediate shift shaft. It acts like a glue and holds the shaft up in the shoe of the upper shift shaft ....

 

[Ted K]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

Great, that was my thought as well. Should have tried that to begin with. wonder what the chance of not having a bent intermediate shaft is now?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

Are you positive that you put the washer on top of the shift shaft before reassembling the outdrive? That washer normally keeps the intermediate shaft from falling down.

 

[Ted K]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

Are you positive that you put the washer on top of the shift shaft before reassembling the outdrive? That washer normally keeps the intermediate shaft from falling down.

If you are referring to the washer on the intermediate shaft, I never took it apart. The washer on top of the shift shaft (lower) bushing is in place. The intermediate shaft, upon inspection yesterday, has all the parts in place according to the diagram. Everything seemed to line up fine as I was reinstalling the gear case (while holding prop shaft counter clockwise) After I finished bolting everything together is when I noticed the prop shaft would now spin free either direction while still in fwd (with a slight clicking sound). I am assuming that in the last seconds of raising gear case, the intermediate shaft slipped down and thus disengaged from upper shaft.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

I was referring to the washer on top of the lower shift shaft bushing.

 

[Ted K]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

Yes, that is there and it would, I assume hold it in place but in that crucial time of aligning the splines, the intermediate must have slipped down. Now tonight I take it apart and try the grease method if the Int. shaft is not ruined.

 

[ziggy]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

another idea....

sounds like the intermediate shaft is dropping down causing you troubles. i've taken 2 light duty rubber bands and held the intermediate shaft in place. after the lower is almost mated to the upper and the intermediate shaft and the lower shaft are mated. ya just break off the rubber bands and slide it together...

fwiw... i don't mate the lower to the upper while the upper is still on the boat anymore... i have the whole drive on the bench. it's a one person easy to do job to mate the lower to the upper while on the bench.. much, much, much easier than mating them while the upper is still on the boat..

 

[Ted K]

Re: merc 888 shift shaft link

another idea....

sounds like the intermediate shaft is dropping down causing you troubles. i've taken 2 light duty rubber bands and held the intermediate shaft in place. after the lower is almost mated to the upper and the intermediate shaft and the lower shaft are mated. ya just break off the rubber bands and slide it together...

fwiw... i don't mate the lower to the upper while the upper is still on the boat anymore... i have the whole drive on the bench. it's a one person easy to do job to mate the lower to the upper while on the bench.. much, much, much easier than mating them while the upper is still on the boat..

Wow! after thinking about the rubber band idea (took me a minute) that should work. I really don"t want to take the upper off right now if I don't have to. Besides, I like the upper leg pain that comes from using them as jack stands!