Bravo 1 x paint flakes IN upper housing?
 

Ok after dealing with some shifting delays for two seasons I decided it was time to dissasemble the drive for inspection. Pulled the drive yesterday and removed top and back covers. First thing i noticed was a piece of black paint flake sitting over the upper gear bearing... Uhh? Looking closer at the inner housing where the gear set and clutch sits, it seems it was originaly painted inside?? The paint surface is wearing out and i guess that the peeled paint crap find it's way in the gear set and cone clutch assy. Is this normal? Has merc started painting inside the housings in the past? Mine is a 2006. Did'nt find any infos in the manual about it.
I am the second owner. I now need to buy a spanner wrench in order to dissasemble and inspect the clutch. Just another 150$ tool.
While i am there, i was inspecting the U joints. Smooth cross bearings. There is some play in the gear set when i turn the shaft by hand with a little back and forth motion. Is this normal? Did'nt read anything about it in the manual.

Another thing: i tried to uscrew the shift shaft hex screws with a standard hex key... Man in no way will theese get loose! I Will have to use a hex socket that fits on a ratchet. I am afraid to break something! Do you guys heat the thing or just apply maximum strength till they get loose? I have read that there is factory lock tight on these.

Thanks

common for black paint internally of the Mercruiser outdrives ( production side of the coin ).. The housing are painted and EDP process with bare open housings, They never get taped off so the painting process ends up internally as well. Merc claims that the paint does not hurt anything. Hmmm I would not bet the ranch or ones life on it.. Wonder how the oil analysis results apples to apples would turn out, one with out internal paint and one that has internal paint, especially flaking off.