Problem mounting 1995 Merc 4.3 Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive

[KevB]

I just finished replacing the gimbal bearing and all bellows, and am trying to mount the outdrive. I can get the intake shaft into the bearing and get the out drive onto the studs, but run into a 'hard' stop with about 5/8" left on the top mounting studs. The alignment tool is pretty much centered in the gimbal carrier. Both the outdrive and shifter are in forward.

Any suggestions?

 

[Boater31]

As long as the drive shaft splines are going in the coupler and shifter on drive and boat are in forward. Either give it a good square kick( mer kick as some call it) or use the bolts and evenly snug it down. My understanding is when there is alot of grease in the couple and on the shaft the o-rings create a seal and form a air pocket preventing the drive shaft to go all the way easily.

 

[alldodge]

Place alignment tool in and smack in around on all sides. Remove and reinsert to see if it can be done with 2 fingers. If not, may need some more adjustment. Make sure bar goes all the way in

 

[Rick Stephens]

Never use the bolts to pull it in. You will break something. Things to think on:

●Too much grease in the driveshaft o-ring groves.

●Too much grease in the coupler

●As AD said, gimbal bearing not aligned

●Alignment out on engine - if you don't have an alignment bar and use it every time you pull the drive, you shouldn't be maintaining a Merc sterndrive.

●Shift lower and upper shafts not lining up properly in forward gear

 

[Bt Doctur]

Either give it a good square kick( mer kick as some call it) or use the bolts and evenly snug it down. My Nope, word advice ever, fix it the right way

 

[Bt Doctur]

with the alignment tool inserted there is no gap to see

 

[oldsub86]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGVrY4cWiDA&feature=youtu.be

 

[Boater31]

Sorry for the bad advice. I thought you said you used the alignment bar already and was aligned in the OP. When I first put my drive on I watched the video referenced above and at about the 3 min mark is where I learned about the "Mer kick, a size 9 calibrated installation tool" as well as elsewhere on this forum so I personally have used it before but will stop recommending it.

For my own education why would using the bolts be so bad if and only if everything is checked, alignment, shifter, gaskets, o-ring, spline engagement, ect and you just have that little bit to go.

 

[Lou C]

What changed?
gimble bearing & bellows
you sure that gimble bearing is seated all the way in?

 

[alldodge]

For my own education why would using the bolts be so bad if and only if everything is checked, alignment, shifter, gaskets, o-ring, spline engagement, ect and you just have that little bit to go.

Using the bolts to pull it in can exert a large amount of pressure, more then even the Merc kick. If its out of alignment it will force it in place anyway.

 

[Bt Doctur]

When everything is right you can literally push the drive on to within an 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch