STERNDRIVE SHIFTER CONNECTION.

[charlie_the_tuna]

when i pulled the lower unit off, the shifter cable/connection just pulled free.
i thought it had to be disconnected.
does it have to be re-connected?
the hollow where the universal joint is was filled with lube.
it looks like there was water intrusion. not much but a bit.
how do i refill this cavity?
where does water get in from?
help?

ferm?

[macojoe]

Your screwed now!! Break out another $1000!

[THEFERMANATOR]

If you have water in there, you may have a bellows problem. Or your gasket could have been bad(or missing). What part of the shifter connection are you talking about?

[charlie_the_tuna]

the end of the connection that goes from the gimble to the lower unit.

[charlie_the_tuna]

will try to post some pics tomorrow. will be parts fetching tonight.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I believe your talking about the 2 parts that look like L's. One side is atatched to the shift rod going down through the gimble, and the other side is on the lower unit. They mesh together to let it shift. So long as you have the shifter in forward and the lower unit portion(long side) facing forward, they just slide together when you put the outdrive back on. Was there a gasket on it when you removed the outdrive?

[charlie_the_tuna]

yup. there was a gasket. dont know the condition cause it was a b i t c h gettin it off. when it finally came, the gasket was a mess.
there was also an O ring.
i hope i wasnt supposed to have it in forward when pulling it off.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Yep, supposed to be in forward. Makes the job ALOT easier.

Right above the first picture.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Repairs;action=display;num=11772118 86

[charlie_the_tuna]

yup. thats the stuff.
i'm not pulling the helmut off. just the lower unit. i'll sand and paint the rest while on the boat.
i pulled it off in neutral.
should i still put it in forward when re-installing?
also, are there any special tools i need to get er back on?
man, even getting the prop off was a b i t c h.

[charlie_the_tuna]

in the picture titled the finished product, the small port to the left (i geuss a water port) takes an O ring.
directly opposite is the shifter linkage. what do i need to look for when pushing the unit back on.
also, how do i fill the cavity with lube?
should i just pull the rest off and do the soup to nuts thing?
what is the added expense like?

[charlie_the_tuna]

also, i'm on vacation this week.
if i dont get it done this week its over.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Check the bellows and see if there hard or cracking, if there still soft and pliable you should be alright. The gasket is what seals the shift linkage side. There is an O-ring that goes in the water hole and another square O-ring that goes around the outdrive where it slides into the helmet. Grease normally gets into the drive bellows when you grease the gimbal bearing. The gimbal bearing has a grease fitting on the starboard side almost half way up next to the hull. To just re-install the outdrive so real special tools are needed. If your going to rebuild the gimbal with new bellows you'll need a gimbal socket, a bellows expander and some sort of socket to get the shift cable out of the helmet. It is also a good idea to check your engine alignment while you have the outdrive off.

The one I just rebuilt was actually my first, but I'm a bit more than the average shade tree guy as well, used to make a living as a mechanic. If you need to have the bellows done it is a trying job, I'll give it that. It is actually getting hard to find shops to work on sterndrives, around here most shops turn em away.

[frayed_knot]

CTT, you shouldn't have that much lube in the bellows. There will likely be a buildup of grease around the gimble bearing itself, but not slam full. Was it oil or grease? If it was oil, you got bigger problems, like seals in the upper gear box.

Definately put into forward gear, not neutral forward, but honest to goodness forward gear. Putting the drive back on can be a challenge because there is so much you need to be looking for. The shift cable end that goes into the outdrive needs to be in just the right position and engaging the shift rod correctly. It likes to drop down and spin off of the shift rod roller, big pain in the butt. To keep the o-ring in place for the water inlet, just coat it in grease, it'll stick there pretty good. If it wont go back on the last inch or so, recheck the shift cable thingy and make sure that the controls are in forward and the outdrive is still in forward gear ( the lower shift shaft on the outdrive needs to be pointing forward ). I just did this by myself, so it can be done. Let me know if you have any issues, I can dig up some pics or even an online mercruiser manual.

[charlie_the_tuna]

S H ! T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[THEFERMANATOR]

SUPER HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING ;D.

Just remember, it can always get worse.

[charlie_the_tuna]

just did.
got less than 5 days left and roughly $300.
looks like i may hafta sell my hardtop.
MAY!

[macojoe]

Your screwed now!! Break out another $1000!




Told you so!! I hate I/O!!