Pre Alpha 1 228 lower unit install

[Deep waters]

My ignorance is not bliss. I did not put the drive in forward before removing the lower unit. As a result the prop shaft will not engage and I can't align the outdrive shaft to engage.

 

[alldodge]

Welcome
If you just dropped the lower half of the drive, then no issue

Move throttle to forward
Rotate shift shaft until the prop locks in Reverse (note Rev not Fwd)
Raise the lower half into upper half

 

[Deep waters]

Thank you. I can't get the last 1/4" to marry. Also, while shaking it around to fit, the shift shaft is no longer in reverse. Your thoughts please?

 

[alldodge]

The shift foot should be point forward on the upper half and should be held in position mated to the shift shaft on the bell housing

The prop isn't staying lock in rev so the shift shaft is moving. Could put it in position and then use a bungee cord on the prop to keep the prop locked in place

The splines on the lower shift shaft will mate with the upper shift foot, and it might hang on the 2 pieces if they don't align correctly. It can be done but sometimes it just not worth the trouble for me to save the gasket on the upper.

The easiest way I've found to do it is pull the upper, mate the lower with upper and than install drive

 

[Bt Doctur]

All Dodge, I think you meant shifting into full fwd at the control box and rotating the lower splined shaft fully clockwise into fwd ,that will lock the prop in a CCW position not reverse