Stuck outdrive

[nola mike]

Started to pull my engine, got everything ready, waited till the end to pull the drive (easiest part, right?). Damn thing wouldn't come off. Pulled back maybe an inch, even after dropping it. First thought was that removing the lag and mount bolts allowed the engine to move enough to bind it in the coupler. Put the bolts back in, no better. Wouldn't go back on or off.Tried forcing it off with the Rams, nothing. Only after all that did I think that I might not have been in forward gear. Crap. I had put it in gear, but didn't double check it. It's definitely jammed, but not sure what the hell is causing it. Here's a pic from behind. Looks like the intermediate shaft is aft of the shoe, right? Got frustrated so stopped thinking clearly at some point. Suggestions?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Drop the lower unit, that'll take the pressure off the shift shoe,.....

Hopefully, ya didn't bend anything,.....

 

[nola mike]

Unfortunately that didn't do it. Nothing bent on the lower. Guessing that I wedged it when trying to put the outdrive back on, which makes me think my original assumption was correct and I'm sticking in the coupler or gimbal bearing. I can get the drive to move an inch or so in either direction now, but it hangs when the drive is about flush with the studs. Going to try turn the engine over and see if that changes anything. Pounding on the input shaft didn't do it either.

 

[AShipShow]

did you use a block of wood between the top cap and the gimbal housing when you tried to use the rams? this has worked for me everytime I had a stuck drive...

 

[nola mike]

Well, we found our problem. Yeah, tried that with the rams. Ended up tapping the top while prying from below. Bellows looked good, and I replaced them either last spring or the year before that. Maybe an install problem? Either way, this project is getting bigger. Hopefully the transom is in OK shape. We'll be drilling a bunch of holes once the motor's out.

 

[Lou C]

Ouch! That’s why when I winterize mine one weekend I do the engine and the next weekend I pull the drive so even if there is water in the bellows it didn’t sit there all winter season.

 

[AShipShow]

Oooh.. yea, thats a mess... Looks like some a gimbal bearing and some u-joints in your future.

 

[GA_Boater]

The gimbal bearing is rusted to the shaft and can't be saved.

 

[nola mike]

The gimbal bearing is rusted to the shaft and can't be saved.

Well, yeah. But that's only one of many new problems. Annoying that those u-joints were less than 2 seasons old, as were the bellows, shift cable, basically everything in there except the gimbal.

 

[AShipShow]

Did you find a tear in the bellows,or is it possible the bilge filled with water?

 

[nola mike]

Did you find a tear in the bellows,or is it possible the bilge filled with water?

No and no.

 

[andrewterri]

I know where your coming from. I am in the same boat, a simple things ends up getting much more complicated. Looking at the bright side, you now know what the problem is so you can fix it and move on. Just a tip, since you will have rust in the coupler you can use a 12 gauge bore brush (i think it 12 gauge) and some rods attached to your drill to get in there and break some of that rust up.

 

[nola mike]

I know where your coming from. I am in the same boat, a simple things ends up getting much more complicated. Looking at the bright side, you now know what the problem is so you can fix it and move on. Just a tip, since you will have rust in the coupler you can use a 12 gauge bore brush (i think it 12 gauge) and some rods attached to your drill to get in there and break some of that rust up.

Not worried about the coupler, new engine going in! And actually, the end of the yoke was still nicely greased with no rust on it.

 

[andrewterri]

Its all coming up milhouse for ya. Enjoy the new engine!!!