I've been wrestling with the darn u joint bellow all morning. I thought that the water pump hose was going to be the worst. Is there a trick to keeping the clamp up on the housing when you're tightening it down? I've got the u joint bellow on, but as soon as I tighten the clamp, it slips off on doesn't tighten ans seat properly. I need some advice. Thanks!

I just wrestled with mine on a Bravo. My problem was the shift cable bellow slipping off. You need to make sure the bellows is correctly on, and the clamp is fully on the metal housing area, and not half on.

If you're using bellows adhesive, you could always let it dry a bit to help out. But if you're in the right spot, on squarely, and the clamp is in the right place, it shouldn't slip off.

Thanks, I got that part figured out on Sunday. Didn't realize there was a groove for it. Now I'm struggling with the out drive. Got it jacked up, spun the prop counterclockwise, but I can't get it to go in. I've watched every video I can find on you tube, and all of theirs go right in.

I keep reading that I don't need to align it either, to which I'm not sure. Then the whole if you spin the prop it is supposed to spin the drive shaft? Not doing that. Also does the remote still need to be in full wot, should it be neutral, IDK, I've seen so many different things. Also, does my shift cable need to be hooked up to the engine or do I leave that unhooked until I get the drive on? I'm pretty confused/frustrated.

I've got a merc gen 1. I know it's not supposed to be this hard, and it's supposed to "slide" right in. Ya right. Please Help!!! Maybe it's the 666 beginning number in the serial number? eerr. I don't want to jinx myself.

Everything hooked up. Put the boat in forward. Shift the drive in forward. Spin prop to line up splines. If it don't slide right in align eng. Artie

Thanks, I'm going to go outside and hook the shift to the engine. The remote has been full wot the whole time. I know it's going to sound stupid, but put it into neutral, hook up the shift, then just put into forward not wot then? I didn't get the engine alignment tool. Can you do it without it? I know it will destroy the shaft and such if I don't align it and it needs it, however, all of the things I have been told have said that as long as you didn't pull the engine you don't need to align. Even the factory guy I met at Home Depot (worked at CC) said I don't need to. I am not questioning your expertise, just trying to get it right so that I don't mess other things up.

Might give this Video a try. His name is Friscojarretts. He is a cool guy that give a lot of detail Info. on his work.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5Z5Nh-voc

Escobar, that was helpful. The "detant" thing was not at noon. It was more like the neutral position. Now if I just had a hand I think I'd be able to get it on. I'm going to try tomorrow when I have help. I tried by myself tonight, and that didn't go so well. I was trying to hold it with my knees, and now they're black and blue.

I also think that I need to jack it a bit higher, and install it on an angle like Frisco did. I've got a lot of time into trying to get that darn drive on, and a shoulder injury.

Tomorrow is a new day, I'll try it then. With help, of course, lol.

More ideas would be appreciated too! I'm open to about any at this time. I do think I'm on the right track.

Woo hoo! I'm pretty excited! Got the out drive on tonight with the help of my brother, dad and fiance. Fired it up, sounds great! Tested the prop in both reverse and drive. Looks good. Friday is the official water trial day, I can't wait! Thanks to all for the suggestions! I had to celebrate and go out for beer and wings tomight!

How'd the water trial go?

I've got three successful water trials under my belt. Boat planed with two of us in there. Would not plane out with seven though. Had to do an on water adjustment of the throttle, it was idling a little low. I was paranoid that first day, so much so that my beer didn't taste good lol. I've still got to mess with the trailer registration.

My truck quit though, and I had to have it flat-bedded to the dealer. Lost all of the command center and the prnd12. (2010F150) Had head lights and radio, fuel pump would cycle, truck wouldn't start. Tried to jump, no luck. Once it got t the dealer on the flatbed, it decided to start. Oh well it's documented now. Hope it's not a shirt from my trailer. All in all, it was very successful. I had to check the engine compartment probably 50 times this past weekend.

The one thing I noticed is that I have to push the push to trailer button to lift the prop in the water. The lake was weedy and the channel was shallow so I had to put it up. The up on down on the throttle seemed like it was only for trims. I'm going to do some more investigation. I do need to get someone in there to fix the radio wiring. I am not good at that at all.

How's your project coming Sam?