I'm puting my alpha back together after installing a new bell housing, etc. While trying to re-install and adjust my shift cable I noticed that there is some vertical play in the shift shaft. In fact the shaft moves enough that the bell housing shift shaft, and the drive unit shift shaft can be disengaged. Anybody know why there is so much movement there and what I need to do to fix it? Thanks for the help

More info - I just checked and confirmed that it is the shaft in the drive that moves up and down.

there is a E clip under the seal housing on the shift shaft. if it is gone it will allow the shaft to move up and down.

Wel...I thought I had this figured out but not so. When my alpha is in stalled the shift shaft slips down so that it disengages from the shift shaft in the bell housing. It's almost like the bell housing shaft isn't long enough????? I had the drive apart a few weeks ago to replace the impeller. should I have installed something to keep the shift shaft up? I'm lost. Help!!!!!

If you had the upper and lower apart you may have forgot to put the big flat washer on top of the shift shaft located at the top of the lower unit. Ask me how I know this.

This is not good. Guess I'm going to have to pull it again. I was just looking at a drawing of the assembly and realized that the "e clip" is on the shift shaft in the lower, I was looking on the upper. No wonder I couldn't find it.

There is no washer. Does anybody know what size washer I need or is it something that I need to order from Merc? Should it recess into the area where the rubber washer sits, or should it sit on top of the shift shaft bushing. I'd really like to finish this today so a local part would be a huge help.

any washer that will go over the shaft and not sit on the bushing, there should be a rubber washer under the stainless washer as well. check out this link and look at #51 & 52. this should help, click the serial #'s and go to gear housing (driveshaft) MR and you will see the pic.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/selec...29+1983%2D1990