what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

[Hawki]

I removed my drive and went through it and aligned my engine and now I'm putting the drive back on and I can get with in 3in and stops, the drive shaft is hitting at bottom of coupler. What a pain. Is there a special way to line it up? or is it trail and error. First time in doing all of this and you guys or girls gave good info previously so since I got tired I thought take a breather and see what you suggest. Thanks awaiting with interest. I am working on a omc cobra sterndrive. Meanwhile I will check previous post,

 

[Bondo]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

I removed my drive and went through it and aligned my engine and now I'm putting the drive back on and I can get with in 3in and stops, the drive shaft is hitting at bottom of coupler. What a pain. Is there a special way to line it up? or is it trail and error. First time in doing all of this and you guys or girls gave good info previously so since I got tired I thought take a breather and see what you suggest. Thanks awaiting with interest. I am working on a omc cobra sterndrive. Meanwhile I will check previous post,

Ayuh,... So what happens when ya slip yer alignment bar back in,..??

Does it also hit the bottom of the coupler,..??

 

[Hawki]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

No goes in to the coupler slides nice. grease marking show shaft hitting at bottom of coupler

 

[Hawki]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

Does my drive and boat have to be in forward gear other post say that. Bear along first time.

 

[4now04]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

Put out drive in gear, get out drive into position, and rotate prop one way or the other to get driveshaft to turn and slide into coupler. It should slide right in.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

The drive HAS to be in neutral. You will damage the shift fork if you don't. Stick a screwdriver into the u-joints and rotate them until the splines engage. Then remove the screwdriver and slide it in. You could also have someone rotate the engine while doing this.

Your alignment bar needs to show grease markings for the splines equally around its surface. If you only have marks on the bottom of the bar, your engine is too high. If the marks on the top, your engine is too low.

 

[Lou C]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?



As noted the engine has to be aligned properly, the marks on the alignment tool have to be even all the way around. Getting it back on can be tough. I like to start out with the boat on level ground. Then I make sure the pivot housing (the part that the drive bolts to) is level, I will put a level up against it and get it as close as I can. Then I use an outdrive cart and try to get it at the right height and level. Lastly the challenge is guiding the driveshaft in and keeping it straight, so that it actually goes in the coupler. It sometimes takes 3/4 tries, sometimes it goes right in the first time. Make sure that the coupler spline area is not full of caked on grease (look in with a flashlight). Put motor oil on the o-rings on the shaft. Grease the splines with OMC triple guard grease. All that helps.

 

[MRS]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

On mine it is a 86 cobra first couple times I pulled it took me hours to get back in. Now what I do is set my trailer wheels on 4x6's and every thing lines up perfect and outdrive slips right in done in 15 minutes or less. You have to make sure you have room to let it slip in with out being at a angle worked for me might want to step back and take a look and see. Plus I do have outdrive hooked to a motor hoist makes life easy on my back.... HAS to be in neutral.

 

[Lou C]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

Last thing I had heard was that some of the early OE bellows and even some of the aftermarket were made a bit small and they were causing the ujoints to hang up going through. The later OE style bellows are bigger inside and this does not happen so much.

 

[Lou C]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

FWD is for a Merc Alpha, Cobra should be in Neutral....

 

[rowlex]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

i had a similar problem long ago. new bellows and it slid on without much hassle.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

Also grease the bellows so the u-joints slide past them...just in case it wasn't mentioned above!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

It doesn't need to be in N
The o-rings on the shaft.
Take them off and clean out the grooves.
Any grease "under" the o-ring will lift it up and make it hard to get into the bearing.
A bit of grease on top of the o-ring won't hurt.

I pull the shift rod up.
Then put the shaft in the bearing.
Prop on: then reach down and pull up the prop with your right hand.
Being in gear it will turn the u-joint assy. and allow the whole thing to slide forward.
When you push the drive in it will automatically put the shift rod into N once it gets close.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

It doesn't need to be in N

Of course the manual says otherwise! :facepalm: Step 17. Doing it in gear can bend the shift rod. There drives are already temperamental with their shift adjustments. Bending the vertical shift rod will do you no favors.


Step #21 is what I described before to engage the splines. Again, use the procedure in the manual. The manual is your friend.

 

[Hawki]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

ok All helpers I thank you, the problem was three things, small bellows opening, catching the u-joints, O rings, crude and grease in the grooves and putting on the prop and putting it in gear so you can turn to line up the spline. So my boat is up and running for summer, Thank you to each and everyone that gave their opinion, they all truly helped. I did an complete tune-up replaced points, plugs, and set the timing on engine and points. Removed the water pump and replaced it. Removed the exhaust manifold checked out the flow and replaced the thermostat. Removed the stern drive and split it to redo the water pump seals and tube. And re-installed the drive, all of this for the first time and your help, i had problems on the way and each time iboat helpers stepped up and guided the way. This was done on a 1988 Bayliner with a 2.3 Liter and cobra drive. Thanks you again. Now i know
I live in Georgia and we had 70 degree weather and took boat out for a test drive. Ran beautiful, Cool running. THANKS

 

[Lou C]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

Great Job thanks for the feedback. Its always nice to know what the problem/cure was.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: what is the knack in putting the stern drive back on?

I worked on hundreds of these while working at the dealership in the 80's.
Never once did I bend the shift shaft.
If it's free enough to shift by hand(it should be) it will shift when pushed up to the transom.
If it's not free or the bellcrank is corroded or frozen it "might" bend the bellcrank.
I stopped a few people who were using a block of wood and a 10# sledge hammer.
The grease under the o-rings was like adding a wall to the outfit.A complete stop!!!