STERNDRIVE SHIFTER CONNECTION.

[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!!