Prop clicking and wont turn counter clockwise. 78 90hp

[Bill H]

OK, I reinstalled my lower unit after rebuilding the water pump and then attached the Power head after an overhaul. now I notice that my prop will only turn clockwise even when shifting the controls through all gears; forward, neutral and reverse. In reverse it spins a little easier clockwise and the clicking is a little more faint but the prop won't turn counter clockwise. Would some one please tell me what I did wrong and a step by step on how to do it correctly? Thank you much.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Prop clicking and wont turn counter clockwise. 78 90hp

Bill, Your gearcase is in forward, all the time. You need to drop the gearcase, turn the shift shaft to neutral, set the MerControl to neutral and reinstall the gearcase.

A lot of folks seem to drop the gearcase while in forward. I do not know why some service manuals recommend this, but it is the cause for much problems....Neutral is so much easier.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Prop clicking and wont turn counter clockwise. 78 90hp

Bill, Your gearcase is in forward, all the time. You need to drop the gearcase, turn the shift shaft to neutral, set the MerControl to neutral and reinstall the gearcase.

A lot of folks seem to drop the gearcase while in forward. I do not know why some service manuals recommend this, but it is the cause for much problems....Neutral is so much easier.

The reasoning is that you can then turn the prop slightly to line up the driveshaft. I prefer to get the CFO involved and have her turn the flywheel with a breaker bar while the LU is in neutral.

The problem comes in that forward sometimes is pretty sloppy on the shift shaft, where neutral is definitely a detented, positive position.

hope it helps
John

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Prop clicking and wont turn counter clockwise. 78 90hp

John, I was always able to turn the flywheel with my left hand, as I wiggled the gearcase into place(in neutral). I usually took off the prop to save weight, especially if it was SS.

You have to use forward to install a Mercruiser Alpha gearcase, and you need to put CCW pressure on the prop to hold it in forward. Now that is a real PIA.......

 

[Bill H]

Re: Prop clicking and wont turn counter clockwise. 78 90hp

I got it working properly, I drop the LU turn the shift shaft back on click into reverse and disconected the shift lever so i could line the shaft splines up. it slid right together and works fine. Thanks for the help.