Where did I screw up?

[CRay45DB]

1989 Cobalt, alpha one, Gen 1. Had the upper and lower off this winter for a serious paint restoration. While I had the u its apart, put new revile water pump kit. I put the upper unit back on the boat first. Shifter was in forward gear. Then put the lower unit on, lower unit was in forward, and for some reason it was a stickler going back together. Shift rod seemed ducky, after I started it on the trailer with muffs, shifted perfect.

Today we finally put it in the water. Engine, 350 Chevy, starts right up. Put it in forward idle. No problem. Put it in neutral and then again in forward, a,d nothing happens. Can't for forward or in reverse. Go over the side, raise the unit, shift rod and shift over are not together, screw around get them lined up. Get in, we have forward gear, head towards dock, when I go to put it into revers, I am still in forward. Crash....

Need a little help on this one please. Afterwards, when I went to get the trailer, someone was not paying attention and crashed into my trailer. Naturally the wife is yelling at me...need to put her on a sail bote!

 

[nateo]

This is going from memory but right before you close up the two halfs together you have to make sure the shift boot is at 11:50 and after joining together make sure it will turn freely to about 10 o'clock. rotate back to 12 o'clock before installing. Make sure shifter controls is in forward gear. As you are putting drive back on get on your back and look up inside there and make sure the shift boot slides into the shift shaft receiver. One trick I learned is to get drive all the way on you might have to reach up in there and move the shift boot so you can rotate the splines via the prop. Just be sure to put it back so the two line up before you finish pushing drive all the way in. Also make sure your shift cables are adjusted properly. Chris has a video on youtube for that that's very good.

 

[Bt Doctur]

do you remember losing the SS washer that was on the lower splined shaft?

 

[NHGuy]

BT DOCTOR has the likely culprit. That washer keeps the shift shaft up to the level where the foot sits
Take off the whole drive, reassemble with the washers properly placed and then put the assembled drive back on the boat. Way easier than doing it in sections.

 

[CRay45DB]

I don't remember the stainless washer. Hmmm...lower splined shaft.

 

[CRay45DB]

No Title

#25?

 

[CRay45DB]

No Title

BT DOCTOR has the likely culprit. That washer keeps the shift shaft up to the level where the foot sits
Take off the whole drive, reassemble with the washers properly placed and then put the assembled drive back on the boat. Way easier than doing it in sections.

Ok, have taken the whole unit off. Split the lower and the upper. Not seeing it. What am I missing?

 

[CRay45DB]

BT DOCTOR has the likely culprit. That washer keeps the shift shaft up to the level where the foot sits
Take off the whole drive, reassemble with the washers properly placed and then put the assembled drive back on the boat. Way easier than doing it in sections.

Duh!!!!! Found it. was wondering where the rubber washer was from....Thanks!

Any helpful tips to put it back together?

 

[Pocket Change]

The stainless washer goes on the splined shift shaft on top on the front of the lower unit. Don't feel bad. I did the same thing once.

 

[CRay45DB]

No Title

These are all I could find. This it?

 

[stonyloam]

That stainless washer is it.