mercruiser 3.0 alpha 1 gen 2 drive unit shift shaft

[joysticks]

I can't seem to find an answer to this on the forums so here goes...I replaced bellows and am putting outdrive back together, but I can't position the drive unit shift shaft forward. It is pointing straight backwards and moves a little clockwise but stops. I hear clicking in the lower unit when it stops. I took the prop off but doesn't help me. Any suggestions?? Please, I would like to get this boat in for july 4th.

 

[stonyloam]

I think on a gen II you can just pull up on the lower shift shaft and pull it out of the bushing. So turn it all the way clockwise and turn the prop counterclockwise, should lock. Pull up on the lower shift shaft and position it so that it points straight forward and push back down into the bushing.p

Well that posed before I wanted sigh..

Anyway according to the manual you can pull up slightly on the lower shift shaft and reposition it in the splines of the shift crank.. It will not come all of the way out because there is a c clip on the shaft. Make sure you can put the gearhousing into forward first, by turning the shaft all the way clockwise and turning the prop counterclockwise until it locks hold in forward with a bungee wrapped around the prop. If you can not lock it in forward, there may be something else wrong.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you didnt touch the shift shaft ,it cant turn itself around. Pulling the shaft out without knowing how to do it correctly could lead to a complete disassembly of the lower unit.

 

[joysticks]

well, I thought I had it in the forward position before we put the drive shaft in. How do I see all my posts? After I put the drive shaft in, I couldn't get the prop to stop, but after I turned the shift shaft a bit counterclockwise it stopped. I have the drive shaft out again. I really need help to figure this out. I don't want to turn that just willy-nilly.Could it have turned if I put the remote in neutral to raise and lower the drive ? I might have done that, I'm not sure tho. Need to see my old posts, but don't know how to do it.

 

[stonyloam]

If the shift shaft is pointed back, rather than forward, seems like it must have already come loose from the shift crank, or something else is wrong. Don't see how it could happen otherwise. Turn the ss all the way clockwise until it stops then turn the prop counterclockwise to see if it locks in forward. If it does, then you are in forward gear at least. Putting in n when raising or lowering should not have done anything.

 

[joysticks]

ok looked at my old posts and got nothing...when I pulled the drive shaft again. the arm or lever wasn.t really in where it is supposed to be, almost but not quite. Started this last year and picked it up now, so kinda hard to figure out wth I did wrong. Thanks for the info on the remote. yeah I guess I am in forward, but still worries me.

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[joysticks]

that picture does not look familiar to me

 

[joysticks]

so are you saying that if I turn that drive unit shift shaft clockwise til it stops and turn the prop ccw til it stops then I can pull up the duss and turn it all the way forward? I'm sorry but idk anything about drive shafts so I need to be walked thru., thanks

 

[stonyloam]

Well the Dr cautions against it so He knows better than me. Anyway turn the ss all the way clockwise and the prop CCW and see if it locks, and see which way the top of the ss points. At that point you will know you are in forward and the ss SHOULD be pointed straight ahead. Come on back with the results and we can go from there.

 

[stonyloam]

The picture is of the shift crank that slides the spool back and fort to change gears. At the top is the splined hole that the shift shaft fits into. So you can see that if the ss gets pulled out of the top of the crank it is free to turn. If yours is turned anyway except straight ahead when in forward the simplest explanation is that it got accidentally pulled out and went back into the splined hole in the wrong position.

 

[joysticks]

well I pointed it forward by picking it up, was easy-now to check it out

 

[stonyloam]

It should be pointed straight ahead when turned as far clockwise as it will go, and the prop should lock when turned counterclockwise. If so, then you should be good to go.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Hmmm.... something dont sound right here (but I'm just an old school alpha-1 guy, not a gen II guy....but I do have the gen II manual). I didnt think you could just pull up on the shift shaft without taking out the shift shaft bushing at the same time (two bolts), like when you are changing a shift shaft bushing/seal. (page 3B-47 of service manual 14.).
There is a c-clip (item d, page 3B-48,) on the shift shaft just below the bushing. Maybe your C-clip is broken/missing. I think I would take it apart and check it. BT Doctur???

 

[stonyloam]

Me too, I think the "C" clip is far enough down on the shaft to allow it to be lifted up and out of the crank, but would keep it from being removed from the housing.

 

[joysticks]

everything seems ok since I turned the ss to straight forward, put the drive back on..try to start it up tomorrow. I'll let you know, fingers crossed, I have forward and reverse. If only one I hope it is forward. lol

 

[joysticks]

btw stonyloam, it only turned clockwise to about 8, ( from 6 to 8) but the prop locked ok. I picked it up and put it straight forward and prop ccw and it also locked

 

[Bt Doctur]

reverse the F and R