merc outdrive hard to install

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mhirsch05

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hello everyone. i have an 81 stingray with a pre alpha drive, 120hp. i am in the process of trying to put the drive back on the boat after gimbal bearing replacement and alignment. however it seams to be catching or sticking ounce i get it about halfway on. the alighnment and bearing were done by a local shop as i could not get the bearing out myself. i double checked alignment and it seems to be good. is there something i could be missing? the only way i think i could possibly get it on the way it is is with some sort of hammer.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

mhirsch05 said:
hello everyone. i have an 81 stingray with a pre alpha drive, 120hp. i am in the process of trying to put the drive back on the boat after gimbal bearing replacement and alignment. however it seams to be catching or sticking ounce i get it about halfway on. the alighnment and bearing were done by a local shop as i could not get the bearing out myself. i double checked alignment and it seems to be good. is there something i could be missing? the only way i think i could possibly get it on the way it is is with some sort of hammer.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Donno why it won't slide on, but a Hammer is not necessary...

How far from Home is it stoppin',..??
Please be reasonably accurate, in Inches....
 
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mhirsch05

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

stops when the studs on the bell housing are just about to come out of the holes on the drive, id say about 1-1.5 inches. iv also noticed that when it does stop it about the time when it contacts the shift shaft. thought maybe they were binding but i have ruled that out
 
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eldplanko

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

Check the inboard side, is the drive shaft entering the coupler? Rotate the engine by hand (breaker bar on crankshaft nut), does this turn the drive shaft. If so, splines are lined up. If not, splines are not lines up and perhaps keeping it from going home.
 
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Wes M.

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

I ran into the same thing. I did not have my trim cylinders tied up, they were laying down and the outdrive was hitting them. After I realized my mistake and tied them up it slid in with no problem.
 
ziggy

ziggy

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

be sure the shift shaft coupler is mating proper. even with both in fwd. still go look at it to be sure they're engaging spot on.

i don't rotate the engine to line up the splines, i spin the prop shaft with my flow torque II hub and a crescent wrench. ccw only.

be sure the shift slide is entering it's cavity squarely and it stays square w/ the shift lever roller in it's proper place.

i've found that you need to be spot on perpendicular when installing the drive. any misalignment of the snout of the drive and the bell housing and it'll bind and not wanna go on.

if it's going on proper, no hammer needed. maybe a strong push at the very end, but that's about it.
 
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mhirsch05

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

ill take a look at it again but i know the trim cylinders are not a problem they are tied out of the way. shift shaft was pretty dang straight on. only place i could say it was binding would be on the top where i cant see. it seems it is binding about a millimeter before i touch the shift shaft though.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

mhirsch05 said:
ill take a look at it again but i know the trim cylinders are not a problem they are tied out of the way. shift shaft was pretty dang straight on. only place i could say it was binding would be on the top where i cant see. it seems it is binding about a millimeter before i touch the shift shaft though.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Turn the motor, or the prop, 'n shift/ align the splines....
 
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mhirsch05

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

i made an interesting discovery. if i turn the prop shaft the drive shaft doesnt turn. i take it it got knocked out of drive. can somebody tell me which way the shifter shaft should be to have it in drive
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

mhirsch05 said:
i made an interesting discovery. if i turn the prop shaft the drive shaft doesnt turn. i take it it got knocked out of drive. can somebody tell me which way the shifter shaft should be to have it in drive
Click to expand...

Ayuh,..... The shift foot 'n the shift shoe need to be straight fore, 'n aft...

Use a bungee cord 'round the propshaft, holdin' tension on it...
It won't fall into neutral that way...
 
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mhirsch05

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

when i turn the shoe it seems to just snap back to where it was. normal?
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

mhirsch05 said:
when i turn the shoe it seems to just snap back to where it was. normal?
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Turn the prop at the same time til it Clicks/ Locks....

Then bungee the prop...
 
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mhirsch05

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

thanks bond-o i will try that when i get home tonight.
 
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alilley

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

i jsut fought that same issue over the weekend(along with other frustrating issues) and just to double check everything i had dad watch and make suree the shift shaft was going in right as i was pushing one the out drive. i got to hte point where you was and it would not go any more so i went in and got the my better half explained to her what i needed done and y (she works better that way) i turned the shoe and foot to lign up and she help the prop once i got it on the studs had her pull on the prop (to turn the drive shaft and splines) then all of a sudden it just bascally fell into place.
 
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dn010

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

it is a little difficult to turn the prop in order to turn everything in the drive since you're trying to also turn a dry water pump... Get some water to it thru the passage that mates with the bellhousing and then try to turn it. Also, be sure the splines line up or you'll destroy the coupler trying to put the drive on. If you miss even one time and try to push the drive on you'll start to scuff up the splines... Take a light and look at the coupler splines, see if they are starting to get damaged...
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

If all else seems to fail, then the shop put the gimbal bearing in backwards.
 
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mhirsch05

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

hmm i hope i have not damaged anything. i did give her a few heavy pushes that budged it a little but not much. not gonna be happy if i screwed up those splines. any idea on how to fix the splines in the coupler if i did happen to mess them up? i dont think i would have though cause none of the splines on the drive shaft are scuffed
 
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JerryIrons

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Re: merc outdrive hard to install

Welcome to the wonderful world of putting an outdrive back on, you have now been initiated!

Was everything in forward when you removed the drive? Also I would be very very reluctant to use a hammer, it really should go on without a whole lot of force or you will probably bend something. The shifter lever at the helm should be in forward full. This should set the bracket into straight forward mode. The "shift shoe", should be pointing straight forward - if you look at the bracket it has to slip into, you will understand why. Get up under the out drive and look at the shoe and bracket to make sure they look like they are aligned straight with each other. When you are in neutral or reverse they will be angled and will not go on easily or at all without bending something.

If your shoe wants to snap back, that sounds like something isn't in forward. The lower shift shaft needs to be turned correctly so that it is in forward gear as well...

And lastly, once everything is in forward use a bungy to hold things tightly in forward. It seems like all you have to do is just breath on something, and it will slip out of forward into neutral. It's a pain I know. Then, when you are trying to put things together, you can turn the prop slightly to align the splines - don't turn the wrong way or you go in neutral and start over! Also make sure things like trim tubes etc do not block anything.

I learned all this the hard way like I do lots of things. Bent my shift shoe bracket as part of learning how this all works!
 
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