Shift Shaft Thingy Mystery

[bill chisholm]

I have inherited a Merc 8.0 1980 vintage but the lower unit is in a box with all of the water pump parts.

The shift shaft IS NOT in the lower unit..it was removed from the lower unit rather than from the powerhead when accsessing the water pump.

The shift shaft end the goes in the lower unit has a triangular shaped doo dad that screws on the end of it and goes down into the lower unit.

My question....when I push the shaft, with the triangular doo dad screwed on it, into the lower unit what way would the tapered end point and does it lock in to the lower unit somehow. How will I know when it is in the proper postition?

I can't find a diagram that helps either.

Thanks for all of your help !

"Wanting to go fishing"

 

[sschefer]

Re: Shift Shaft Thingy Mystery

That triangle thingy is the cam and it fits into the cam follower. Go figure..LOL When you drop it in, turn it so it's facing out from the drive shaft and then slowly rotate it counter clockwise until it picks up the follower. Once you have the shift shaft seals back in, it will stay in place naturally.

Well, let me qualify that with this is how it was on one of mine.

 

[bill chisholm]

Re: Shift Shaft Thingy Mystery

I'll see if I can figure that out.. I hope I have some shift shaft seals too

 

[achris]

Re: Shift Shaft Thingy Mystery

Hi,

The 8 hp didn't start until 1986.. Do you have a serial number?

For the purpose of reassembly you can use the manual for the later engines...

Download it HERE. Password for the file is <<ribforum>>

Chris......

 

[sschefer]

Re: Shift Shaft Thingy Mystery

Hi,

The 8 hp didn't start until 1986.. Do you have a serial number?

For the purpose of reassembly you can use the manual for the later engines...

Download it HERE. Password for the file is <<ribforum>>

Chris......

Chris, wasn't the 8 a Tohatsu aslo?

 

[achris]

Re: Shift Shaft Thingy Mystery

Chris, wasn't the 8 a Tohatsu aslo?

Not the early ones. The 6, 8, 9.9 and 15 were all based around the same block. The bore was slightly different between the 6/8 and the 9.9/15, but the rest was the same, and not Toy... It wasn't until the 2000's that Merc sold out and started using Toys in the small engines. Sad day! Those little Mercs were bomb proof.

Chris.......