Reinstalling drive

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
The manual does not specify the water passage oring and the big rubber gasket in the gimbal housing to be glued.I have read that some guys do glue it.What is the proper installation method? Also the shift slide had a ton of grease on and around it which I cleaned off,how much and what kind of grease is necessary for reassembly?Thanks-Blair
 

Volphin

Lieutenant
Joined
Jun 5, 2011
Messages
1,405
Re: Reinstalling drive

The o ring can be just tacked in place with a little black RTV. The big rubber gasket I just install dry.
 

haulnazz15

Captain
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Reinstalling drive

You don't need bellows adhesive on the o-rings, but it makes it a lot easier to install when the o-rings hold themselves in place. There should be some grease to help the shift slides move freely, but it doesn't have to be covered in the stuff.
 

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
Re: Reinstalling drive

When I install the o-ring I usually have grease on my fingers by then and just rub around the o-ring so that it has a tad bit of a coating. It will then stick in place. I would put enough grease to cover the shift slide but not a layer of it.
 

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

Great,thanks guys.So far:eek:ilchange,Engine alignment(some of you know how that went, but I learned),new impeller,gear lube,sent the drive out for a reseal(didn't feel comfortable with that),Lubed steering,shift cables,deoxed electrical connections,lubed remote shift linkage,drained all the water from the hull(giant rainstorm last trip of the year)vacuumed interior,lubed carb linkage and engine exterior.Tomorrow fog,drain and wash hull,cover, tarp and to sleep goes the boat for the winter.It will take half the time next year.Thank you all for your sound advice I feel very fortunate to have a place to go like this!So much good advice that the boat shop owner almost threw me out of his shop for telling him that he reassembled my drive incorrectly(did not lock the dogs in forward when putting upper and lower together).The old man working in the shop asked if I wanted a job.Greased all the zirks on the gimbal,pulled the prop(its messed up anyway from the last trip of the year)Lubed trailer bearings,winch and tongue.Well Im sure theres a few things I left off but the list is pretty complete I think.Thanks again-Blair
 

ktbarrentine

Lieutenant
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
1,296
Re: Reinstalling drive

The Alpha-1 gen II manual has wording in it now that says you should glue the large O-ring in place with bellows adhesive. I do that now. Last time I did not glue it in place, I knocked it out of place while installing the drive and cut it in half! Of course I did not know this until the next time I took the drive off. Good thing my paper gasket and shift shaft bushing held (no water in the drive bellows).
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Reinstalling drive

Did you retorque the gimbal ring clamping screws? 55 ft/lb.
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Reinstalling drive

Last time I did not glue it in place, I knocked it out of place while installing the drive and cut it in half! Of course I did not know this until the next time I took the drive off. .

kt: makes me feel better to know that I am not the only one that has done that.:rolleyes: Yeah learned my lesson use bellows adhesive now.
 

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

Uh ,no what are the gimbal ring clamping screws? Do you mean the hinge pins?
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Reinstalling drive

They are the two bolts at the top of the gmibal ring. They hold the gimble ring tightly onto the square portion of the upper gimbal ring pivot pin. #28 here http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...&bnbr=50&bdesc=GIMBAL+RING+AND+STEERING+LEVER If the screws become loose it can cause the gimbal ring to ware out. Making sure they are tight is part of annual maintenance. There should be no side to side play in the outdrive.
 

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

Ok are you sure on the torque specs on those? It shows a nut behind them but mine were less than 20 ft/lb with still no side to side play. -Blair
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Reinstalling drive

The manual does not specify the water passage oring and the big rubber gasket in the gimbal housing to be glued.I have read that some guys do glue it.What is the proper installation method? Also the shift slide had a ton of grease on and around it which I cleaned off,how much and what kind of grease is necessary for reassembly?Thanks-Blair

Hello Blair... WHICH manual? The Merc ones do....

Chris.....
 

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

#6 in drive installation I believe.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Reinstalling drive

#6 in drive installation I believe.

Yeah, I was sort of hoping you wouldn't say that one. Both the previous and the manual after that one both say to glue it in....
 

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

So do you glue both Chris? I will have to see how I ended up next fall,as its already on but I wont forget if you get me set straight on the factory way.I know the first large o ring ended up out of the cup because the shop that sealed my upper drive assembled the units improper and I had to take it off. (did not lock the shift splines clockwise before assembly).I got a whole new gasket set and orings for the reassembly.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Reinstalling drive

I glue the large black seal in, and use a bit of grease to hold the water 'O' ring in place... Have you looked at my video on reinstalling a drive?

Chris....
 

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

Sure did,and read the manual.I did use grease to hold the water passage oring,but I did not glue in the large one but I will next fall.
 

stonyloam

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
5,827
Re: Reinstalling drive

Ok are you sure on the torque specs on those? It shows a nut behind them but mine were less than 20 ft/lb with still no side to side play. -Blair

I am. You need to turn the outdrive side to side and get a box wrench on the nut. I would do it in steps maybe 10 ft/lb or so, one side then the other to keep even pressure if it has not been done in a while. If it is not loose now, it would have been in the future. Here is the manual open to the maintenance section: Boatinfo - Mercruiser Service Manual nr. 6 - 1983-1990 - R, MR, Alpha One & Alpha One SS Sterndrives What happens is that when the screws get loose enough the square part of the pivot pin will begin to move in the ring and ware the square opening until it gets loose and the outdrive will develop side to side play, and when the ware gets bad enough the ring needs to be replaced (major PITA), so it is best to keep them torqued to spec.
 
Last edited:

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Reinstalling drive

I am. You need to turn the outdrive side to side and get a box wrench on the nut. I would do it in steps maybe 10 lb or so, one side then the other to keep even pressure if it has not been done in a while. If it is not loose now, it would have been in the future. Here is the manual open to the maintenance section: Boatinfo - Mercruiser Service Manual nr. 6 - 1983-1990 - R, MR, Alpha One & Alpha One SS Sterndrives

^^^^^ +1 (Terry's 100% right. But we call 'em 'ring spanners' ;))
 
Last edited:

bspeth

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
758
Re: Reinstalling drive

Will do,thanks for the knowledge.
 
Top