Not sure whch is forward or reverse on alpha 1 install ?

[alan ber]

Mercruiser 488 R 4 cylinder
Alpha 1

when I removed lower unit too check impeller had throttle in forward gear
Lower unit came out easily
When working in general area I moved the forward & reverse shaft
Now having a tough time too re - install . Between water tube, gear pipe moving freely and splines not lining up , was a challenge
Finally got it up thought I was on the road too complete but throttle binding and gears not locking
Attempted too re- install and questioning myself which direction should prop spin ?

Lower unit is off .
I move gear shift prop engages R
Move gear shifter other direction gears engage L
488 R I am assuming forward gears are spinning R
So what direction should prop be engaged when I am re- installing,
I am assuming on install gears should be engaged R , throttle is forward
or is it opposite direction on my thinking
thanks

 

[alldodge]

With the shift foot facing straight forward, the prop should lock up in the counter clockwise direction. Once the prop locks in the CCW direction, put a bungee cord on the prop to hold it.

 

[UncleWillie]

Assuming a standard Right Hand Rotation Drive. In forward, the Prop turns to the Right/Clockwise looking forward from behind the boat.

Forward is with the Shift Lever on the drive is pointing straight Forward.
Reverse is with the shift lever turned to the side. Neutral is halfway in between.

This may seem counter intuitive until you think about it.
In Forward, the Prop will will fully engage when turned to the LEFT/Counterclockwise. And will Ratchet, (Click,Click,Click), When turned to the Right/Clockwise.

Revere is just the opposite.
In Neutral the prop will turn easily with one finger either way. A slight clicking may be heard and felt in neutral.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

The lower half has to be held in forward the whole time you are mating the halves. Turning the splined shift shaft on the lower CW and turn the prop CCW until it locks. Hold the prop there by hand or with a bungee.

If when mating the halves the splines don't line up, just very slowly turn the prop some CCW to align the halves. Keeping sure the lower doesn't get bumped out of forward.

 

[ktbarrentine]

For a first timer, it would have been much easier to have the entire outdrive off the boat. You need to check all that stuff in the bellows area anyways (u-joints, bellows condition, gimbal bearing, etc). Makes it so much easier to line things up between the upper and lower halves if it is off the boat and on the bench. I assume you are following the service manual instructions to the letter. Recommend you watch chris's videos (linked here) and follow his advice closely. Best of luck.

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...gines-outdrives/604924-a-couple-of-new-videos