questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

[aggiedave98]

Ok, went in to replace my trim switches and shift cable. Decided to replace the bellows as well. First time for all of this. Have a few questions on putting everything back:<br /><br /><br />1) are there any tricks to getting the intake hose onto the water tube? Can I lubricate it to make it easier?? I'm having trouble getting it on there.<br /><br />2) How do I pull through the shift cable to the top of the engine? I fed it through the hole but it's really hard to get a hold of it reaching up from under the engine.<br /><br />3) With the trim limit and trim position switches, is there a difference between each wire? There doesn't seem to be any markings on it.<br /><br />4) For the shift cable bellow (maybe it's not called a bellow for the shift cable), my Seloc book talks about using or making a special tool to crimp the clamp, but the Mercruiser manual doesn't tell how to crimp it. How should I crimp it??<br /><br />5) The u-joint bellow has a flat part on one side. Which way do I install that bellow?<br /><br /><br />Let me know if I should have posted all of these as separate messages. Sorry for all the questions, but I didn't see the answers in my manuals.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Yeesh, that's alot of questions...But...The water tube....If you use some Dawn dish soap it will ease the installation...It is a tight fit, but the tighter the better I say.. 2. You need a helper...Just to get it through...Kids are useful now and then. #3. Put them back the way you found them...You were supposed to mark thier position before you removed them.....#4. A good set of adjustible gas pliers should do it....You just want a good round crimp...5. Make sure you know aft from fwd....I believe it would be starboard ((Flat side).....#6 Chuck your Seloc or Clymer's & buy the Merc. manuals for your rig &7. I will be drawn & quartered if I missed anything! So wait for more feedback, but that's the bare bones of it....& Good Luck! .....JK

 

[Don S]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

1) Yes there is a trick. Get some "Power Tune" from your Merc outboard dealer, spray it on the hose barb, and inside the hose and it will slip right on (well, better than it does without)<br /><br />2) Depends on year and type engine.<br /><br />3) Yes, one is the trim limit, the other is the trim sender.<br /><br />4) I use a cable tie that Merc uses for outboard fuel lines. Works better than that 'Steel' clamp that you make a crimp tool with a pair of pliers and a nut you cut in half.<br /><br />5) This too is in the Mercruiser manual.<br /><br />Here is a link to the Mercruiser service manual for the Alpha drives. Without a year, I have no idea what manual you actually need.<br />But the Alpha drive takes manual #6<br />Alpha I Gen II takes manual #14<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/srvcovr.pdf <br /><br />Section 4A should cover the bellows install

 

[rodbolt]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

what DonS says. I also have been known to insert a boat plug in the hose and tighten it down to expand the hose and let it sit. the instructions on the switches are in the kit, I use a rubber band on the wires to hold tension on them as I am usually working alone. the cable routing is in the factory manual, I also use the radius head wire ties on the cable bellows, last ten times longer than the factory rust away clamps.<br /> look carefully on the ujoint bellows, most are marked top fwd and/or top aft.<br /> after that its all a matter of how ya squint your eyes and clench your teeth.<br />

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Guys, thanks for the responses. I wasn't clear on a few things. I DO have the mercruiser manual #6 for my '89 Invader with the AlphaI genI. What I was saying was the Seloc manual talks about making your own pliers with a nut, but I didn't see the mercruiser manual talk about how to crimp it on. <br /><br />I'll comment on each of the questions:<br /><br />2) it's an 89 Mercruiser AlphaI. Kopec, even with a helped, can you explain how to get it through? <br /><br />3) Sorry, I wasn't clear on this one. I did mark their positions and I know which one is the limit and sender and where each one goes. My question was let's say with the sender switch, is there a difference between the two wires on that one switch? If so, how do I tell the difference between the two wires? I did not see any info about this in the instructions that came with it or in the Mercruise manual.<br /><br /><br />Thanks guys!

 

[inlineal]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Just a few words about the lower shift cable...Mercruiser has a new kit out that makes the difference from night to day...They shift so smooth that if I didn't hear them shift while on a flusher it almost seems like something isn't connected..It takes a special straight thread tap (not pipe) to install....The kit is about $80.00 and comes with everything....Al..

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

By a helper I meant that it might be hitting something and stopping you from pushing it in....A helper inside the boat would be able to see this and route the cable accordingly.....It is usually not a problem though and can be done yourself....#2 Isn't one slightly longer than the other? Anyway, it shouldn't matter, they can be put on either way....It's a switch that is either on or off....JK

 

[lakelivin]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> 1) Yes there is a trick. Get some "Power Tune" from your Merc outboard dealer, spray it on the hose barb, and inside the hose and it will slip right on (well, better than it does without).....<br />

Or try some AstroGlide, a 'personal lubricant' available at your pharmacy or favorite department store. Some of the most slippery stuff I've seen, and it's water & glycerine based so it won't leave much residual 'slipperyness' after it dries.<br />Haven't used it on an intake hose & water tube, but it's amazing how much easier it made it to put the upper & lower halves of my OMC outrive back together when I put some on the copper water suply tube and the rubber seal it goes through (as compared to using outdrive oil to lubricate the two).

 

[lakelivin]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> 1) Yes there is a trick. Get some "Power Tune" from your Merc outboard dealer, spray it on the hose barb, and inside the hose and it will slip right on (well, better than it does without).....<br />

Or try some AstroGlide, a 'personal lubricant' available at your pharmacy or favorite department store. Some of the most slippery stuff I've seen, and it's water & glycerine based so it won't leave much residual 'slipperyness' after it dries.<br />Haven't used it on an intake hose & water tube, but it's amazing how much easier it made it to put the upper & lower halves of my OMC outrive back together when I put some on the copper water suply tube and the rubber seal it goes through (as compared to using outdrive oil to lubricate the two).

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Kopec,<br /><br />Ok, makes sense. Yeah, it's hitting the engine as you go straight in and I can't quite reach enough to direct it lower, but with somebody pushing it in at the same time may work...<br /><br />LakeLivin, thanks for the advice and I won't ask for details on how you found that one out...

 

[lakelivin]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Got a free sample from one of the hot deals forums; just creative thinking w.r.t. the boat

 

[elpaso]

Re: questions on putting back sterndrive, bellows, shiftcable, trim switch, etc.

Shift cable - as you push in - have inside man<br />hook if with a coat hanger with a hook bent<br />at end.