Replaced Impeller but now can't get motor back together

[jayard78]

Mercury 1980 40hp
I put my water pump back together with a new impeller and then while I was attempting to seat the bottom part of the motor it would not go past the last inch that was left. Every time I try, it just stops at about an inch left to go.

There is a brass pipe that feed the motor water from the pump that needs to be in the correct position when placing it back together but I'm not sure how to make sure it is b/c I can't see it once I start putting it back together.

This was a real pain in the @##$%, any tricks of the trade to help me along with this?

 

[MIKEY*2007]

Re: Replaced Impeller but now can't get motor back together

put grease on tube to hold in place get some one to move fly wheel a little while u lift lower unit and make sure gearbox is in nuetral and thottle is in nuetral position also ,if not out of gear get a good rag around selecter sharft on top of box and turn with suitable pliers and turn to nuetral making sure you don,t damage the splins on sharft prop should turn both ways. hope this helps had the same propblem when i was new at it

 

[jayard78]

Re: Replaced Impeller but now can't get motor back together

So should I put the pipe in first and then, while putting the bottom of the motor on, try to get the pipe to seat into the water pump?

 

[James R]

Re: Replaced Impeller but now can't get motor back together

The water tube tends to float and needs to be moved into the correct position with a thin screw driver or similar to get it to locate in the pump.I think these models had a guide tube sticking up from the water pump. Without this it is a major problem to locate the water tube.
To locate the drive shaft it is neccessary to rotate the drive shaft or the flywheel clockwise a little. A pain I would agree but this is the way of it.

 

[copterguy704]

Re: Replaced Impeller but now can't get motor back together

This is a pain in the butt if its your first time, but after pretty easy.
Let me know if my suggetions help.

1: apply a little grease on the drive and shift shaft.

2: since your only about an inch from closing it up then the problem lies in the shift shaft. Put the drive in forward at console and at the drive. I think it
takes a 5/16 12 point socket. This allows you to spin the prop in reverse to align the drive shaft with the power head.

3: As you raise the drive into place you should be able to get your fingers between the housings and align the water pick up tube. The tube normally has a plastic locator guide, but I guess in your case someone left it out. Its not really needed.

4: Slide the drive up and rotate the prop counter clockwise to align the splines of the shaft to the powerhead. This should get you within an inch of getting it all the way together.

5: If it stops again with an inch or less gap, look at the shift shaft, it is probably leaning to one side or the other. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to align it. You my have to turn it slightly to align the splines, not to much you could put it back in neutral. Nothing like having to drop the lower unit back out because the controls are in forward and the drive is in neutral. Which really sucks.

6: Once gap is within a half inch from closing up, install the two washers and nuts on either side of the unit.

7: Tighten nuts, install the rest of the nuts and bolts.

8: lower the drive all the way down and check to make sure the drive goes into forward neutral and reverse. If it does you done.
I hope this helps