Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

[a1nowell]

Pulled the stern drive to put in a new shift cable & impeller. Now we are going back and haveing trouble. We have got the drive shaft stabbed, and splines are in the flywheel. The shift shaft and the shift collar are alined. We are about 1" from being married up. We are stuck. it will not move. We have pulled the sterndrive out twice, recleaned and greased splines, etc. We are just stuck it seems we are on something solid, it won't slide in.

Any suggestions?

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

Get yourself an alignment tool and check alignment. Or maybe try rotating drive shaft slightly maybe not in splines correctly. But getting alignment check is a god idea no matter what.

 

[QC]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

Take a look at this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=354206&highlight=mercruiser+kick

One of the better ones I've seen. I've had to resort to the "kick" before, but there are some good techs here suggesting otherwise . . .

 

[Don S]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

If your alignment is ok, and your shift shaft shoes are lining up, then the ole Mercruiser kick is needed to get past the orings on the shaft of the outdrive. You did put some grease on those orings didn't you?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

Maybe the spines from the outdrive and in the engine coupler are not aligned. Either try turning the propshaft by hand as you push in or have someone turn the engine with a bar on the balancer "by hand" very slowly as someone pushes. Might slide right in if aligned.

The drive and shifter should be in forward which would be straight on the shift shaft in the bellhousing. Here is a photo by Ziggy showing the shift shaft "not straight". It is in neutral or reverse. In forward that will be straight fore and aft.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

yolk could be on a bind? maybe in that position where it will sag enough to hinder it in a binding position not allowing the O/D to engage fully to the transom assembly had this issue when I put mine on in July I think it happens when you have moved the shaft when servicing try moving it so the 2 end yolk bearing shafts are parrallel with the transom. Worked for me! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dubs283]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

if you are 1" from getting it mated with the bell housing, the shaft splines are lined up - no worries there

like don says, apply some grease/oil to the two o-rings on the splined shaft, they are hanging up in the gimbal bearing

some, very few, engine couplers do not have a pressure relief hole drilled in them and the grease for the splines can air lock and you will not get the drive on - less grease on the splines if this is the case

 

[ChrisCraftJohnny]

Re: Need Help w/Alpha I Stabbing It!

I was in the exact same position a few weeks ago. I mule kicked it and it went on hard. When I went to shift back into neutral, she would not go.

So I was very dissapointed! I took the drive off and re-checked all my work. This time when I installed the drive it went in like butter. I just about did a back flip and I knew in my heart of hearts that she would shift correctly now. I went to the helm and tried the trottle and.....perfect. A break at last.

Here are some tips that I learned on this job.

1. Grease the input shaft splines.
2. Spray a lubricant onto the orings on the shaft.
3. Glue the large oring into the bellhousing with bellows adhesive
4. Grease the oring for the water passage so it will stay in place.
5. Hang the gasket on the large diameter input shaft housing. (Don't place it on the studs as your mind will think to do so. It can cause great binding of the gasket if you have some installing troubles.)
6. Use the alignment tool. It''s got to go in and out (smoove) LOL
7. If you are using the old U-Joints and they are floppy. Support the joint keeping it straight for as long as you can. If she won't go, pull out the drive and index the U-Joint/Shaft a bit and try again.
8. Place counter-clockwise pressure on the prop shaft when pushing the drive on.
9. Be sure the shift foot is straight and is in-line with the shift fork. (
Grease that bad boy)
10. make sure the shift shaft roller is engaged all the way. And grease that roller and put a good deal into the drive cavity where the end of the shift cable goes and also on the end of the shift cable coming out of the bell housing. Merc 2-4-C.
11. Slide it on. Shake it up and down a bit while pushing in. When you have it right, she goes right on.

Hope this helps.

Johnny