Optimax lower unit reinstall problem

[sidenberg]

In reinstalling lower unit on year 2000 Optimax 150 Seloc manual says place gear case in forward gear position and be sure "most" the guide block anchor pin up near the power head to the forward position also.
I'm assuming the word "most" should be "place", but what is the guide block anchor pin? And how can you tell if the gear case is in forward position and this anchor pin is in forward position? What the heck they talking about?

 

[sidenberg]

Re: Optimax lower unit reinstall problem

Got it done by just leaving it in neutral. Had to turn flywheel a hair with the LU hanging with bolts 1/2 inch out but worked easily.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Optimax lower unit reinstall problem

+1. What they are talking about is having your remote control and your lower unit shift cam lined up in the same gear so that when operational, it will shift properly. Some manuals say F for a reason and some N. I like N because it has the crispist detent both on the lower unit shift cam and on the control box.

As you are sliding the LU into place you have the shifter splines, the water tube, and the drive shaft to line up. Nowadays you don't have to worry about the water tube (outlet of the water pump) as it has a retainer to hold it in place for mating. The shift spline you already know about. That leaves the drive shaft.

If the drive shaft splines are not aligned the LU will come up to within about 1" of mating and stop. What you have to do is to rotate the prop or the crankshaft. Since you are in N the prop can't turn the driveshaft but the crankshaft can be turned by putting a wrench on the flywheel nut. Then as you slowly rotate the flywheel, aka crankshaft, keep upward pressure on the LU. When the splines line up it will just slide in place.

Mark