replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

[Scottoohot]

OK, I disconnected the shifter and pushed it in to forward position and now I cant move it to adjust it. It did seem to move easy before I replaced the impeller. Please tell me there is a trick or something and I don't have to replace the cable.

 

[ziggy]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

a

1973 reinell v8

with what kinda drive?

 

[Scottoohot]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

This one. http://www.mercstuff.com/waterpumpinst.htm

 

[ziggy]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

tell us more. so your using instructions on R&Ring the impeller for an alpha1. very similar to what you probably have for a drive. a mc-1. or 1 drive.

I disconnected the shifter and pushed it in to forward position and now I cant move it to adjust it.

for the instructions ya gave, for dropping the lower only to R&R the impeller. ya didn't need to disconnect the shifter. what did you disconnect. the lower shift cable, or the shift cable coming from the remote. where did you disconnect it from. the shift plate inside the boat?

typical error for improper shifting is not having the lower shift shaft properly engaged in the upper shift shaft. they get out of time. ya want the helm in fwd. + ya need to have the lower in fwd. ya rotate the lower shift shaft while turning the prop ccw till it locks. this is fwd. and must be maintained during assembly. do this by loading the prop ccw once it's in fwd. any movement of the prop in the cw direction will shift the lower out of fwd.

the need for a lower shift cable replacement would be normal for a boat from '73. i had to do mine on my '75.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

I am assuming that you followed the instructions, and did not really disconnect the shifter cable. If when you put it back together the control handle is jammed, that is a symptom of having the intermediate shift shaft improperly indexed on the lower shift shaft (gearcase in reverse, control in forward). Here is what you need to do: Shift the control all the way forward. Split the housing again, and separate enough so you can turn the lower shift shaft (short splined shaft) all the way clockwise. Put a bungee on the prop to hold it in place (prop rotated CCW until it locks), put it back together with the top of the intermediate shift shaft pointed straight ahead. Should work then. If you did disconnect the cable, you will have to put it back together as best you can before starting the fix. Good luck.

 

[Scottoohot]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

I keep trying this.. I've dropped the lower half a few times now. I did find lots of rust flakes and removed them.

How hard to move should the lower shift shaft be? I can move it just a little bit back and forth.
How do you know the top of the intermediate shift shaft is pointed straight ahead?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

I keep trying this.. I've dropped the lower half a few times now. I did find lots of rust flakes and removed them.

How hard to move should the lower shift shaft be? I can move it just a little bit back and forth.

By hand will be a little tough to do but that's the way I do it. You should be able to shift the lower between the gears and neutral by hand while putting pressure on the prop in the correct direction to confirm it's engaged.

How do you know the top of the intermediate shift shaft is pointed straight ahead?

By looking at it: here is a Photo from Ziggy of his in either neutral or reverse:

 

[stonyloam]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

I keep trying this.. I've dropped the lower half a few times now. I did find lots of rust flakes and removed them.

How hard to move should the lower shift shaft be? I can move it just a little bit back and forth.
How do you know the top of the intermediate shift shaft is pointed straight ahead?

Use a pair of pliers with padding (cloth or several layers of paper towels, and move the splined shaft clockwise. When you are all the way clockwise, try to rotate the prop counterclockwise. If it locks you are in forward gear. Put on a bungee to hold it there. Look at the pix above and make sure the top of the intermediate shaft (in the upper) is pointed straight ahead. The bottom of the upper shift shaft in the bellhousing should be pointed in the same direction, and one should slip into the other when you put it together.

 

[Scottoohot]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

ok, I read some other posts again..Caught something about the washer. checked mine it was all so concave. Replace it I now can shift and move the cable but the prop wont spin ccw in revers.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

ok, I read some other posts again..Caught something about the washer. checked mine it was all so concave. Replace it I now can shift and move the cable but the prop wont spin ccw in revers.

If everything is correct in Forward it should spin freely clockwise and lock CCW, in neutral spin freely in either direction and in Reverse should spin freely CCW and lock clockwise. Is the cable attached to the control arm, so that when you move the control you move the cable? Remember when the cable moves forward you are shifting into reverse.

 

[Scottoohot]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

Yes. It spins cw and locks ccw.
cable is attached and moves with control arm.
but the prop doesn't change when i shift into neutral or reverse. It stays spinning cw and locking ccw no matter where the the lever is.
Guess tomorrow I'll drop the unit again a few more times till I get it right....

 

[stonyloam]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

OK, so you are in forward, handle moves freely back and forth, no shift. Those are classic symptoms of a missing lower shift shaft washer. without the correct washer in there the intermediate shift shaft has nothing to sit on and drops down and out of the upper shift shaft coupler. Was your replacement washer the same diameter, if not it could drop down? Anyway in the morning raise the outdrive enough so you can see the connection between the intermediate and upper shift shafts like in the photo. If you can have someone shift from all the way forward to all the way reverse while you watch. Do the intermediate and upper shafts remain coupled together and move together?

 

[Scottoohot]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

ok I had a washer but it wasn't there. Oh well put another on. Now I have the ability to shift into forward and out into neutral but no reverse. I can push the SS coupler that you had a picture of into reverse and it engages. Ive tried adjusting the cable as much as i can and reverse still needs a push from outside.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

Almost home. Take a look here, starting on page 86 are the instructions for adjusting your shift cable: http://www.perfprotech.com/store/app_themes/ppt/images/tech-specs/alpha-shift-adjust.pdf should get you there.

 

[Scottoohot]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

Ok I had the prop at full up to work on it....I had a friend suggest it wasnt working do to that....duh...Now it all works...Only question now is when in forward or reverse should it be resistant or make noise when being spun away from lock?
Reverse spins good but clacks
forward spins with slight resistants and clacks

 

[stonyloam]

Re: replaced impeller now shifter is stuck

"Clacks" are OK as long as it locks correctly. Remember when it is running on the water, the gears are locked in and the shaft will not be turning "free". Glad things worked out.