No Reverse

Water Rat

Cadet
Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
15
I replaced the water pump on my Mercruiser which required the removal of the lower portion of the drive. <br /><br />After reaching the lake I discovered that I no longer could switch into reverse. I followed the manual concerning removal and reattachment. And I thought that I got all the parts inside lined up before tightning the bolts.<br /><br />I assumed that I did not get everything lined up and was going to remove the lower unit again to check, but my neighbor says that I need to adjust the shift linkage to fix the problem. <br /><br />So my question is, Does anyone think the linkage should be adjusted? Does it usually need adjusting after removing the Lower portion of the outdrive. Or do you think that I just failed to get the parts lined up in the outdrive. AND is there a trick to getting the shift bushing on the shaft? amd gettting it lined up?
 

lilmandavis

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
618
Re: No Reverse

sounds like you put the drive on in gear and the shifter in neutral. or the shifter in gear and the drive in neutral. if thats even possible?
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: No Reverse

IF it worked before you changed the impeller, why would it need adjustment. You didn't get it back together correctly, and no amount of adjustment is going to correct it, and you know it.<br />I work on these things for a living, and it's so much easier to pull the complete drive, change the impeller, check the ujoints, bellows, and gimbal bearing and then put it back together. That way you know everything is in place.<br />I always had problems with seals, water pipes, shift linkage etc. when trying to do it by just pulling the lower. Just wasn't worth doing 2 or more times to get it right.
 

Water Rat

Cadet
Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
15
Re: No Reverse

I don't work on these things for a living which is why I took as little apart as possible to replace the pump. Figured there would be less chance of screwing something up. If I drop the lower unit again is there a trick or any advice as to how to make sure I get the thing lined up right this time? That brass piece in the front which I assume is the forward and reverse lingage just seems to flop around, and that lower unit is heavy and hard to get put back on.
 

lilmandavis

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 9, 2006
Messages
618
Re: No Reverse

like don said take the upper off to and put it all on at once. after assy. on the bench
 
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