quick alpha question
 

to remove the drive i pull the six nuts and do i than knock out the plug on the right side of the housing to access the pin to release the shift cable? anything else? i am trying to put bellows on, will i need to remove the gimble also? ( the bearings are in good shape)

DO NOT knock that plug out! Just place your shift in forward. That aligns the clevis (or yoke) and shoe to the fore-aft position and if the alignment is good the unit will slide right off. Don't forget to make sure everything is properly aligned again when you replace the unit or you will mess stuff up good when you crank the nuts down. I have replaced many bellows on Alphas without removing the gimble but it isn't much fun and Merc. recommends that you do that removal also. That lower exhaust bellows can be removed and left off if you like. I don't think it does much for performance either way but it sounds lots nicer without it. Later! --- Jer

Yea , what he said, the bellow are a pain but Ive done plenty without taking the gimbal off. If you do take the gimbal off, replace the shift bellows while your at it.

thanks guys. actually i think i will replace shift bellows to while im at it. can that be done with the gimble on also? if i need to pull it to do it right thats no problem. just wanna make sure i am doing all the right stuff while im at it. i'm getting the drives pressure tested to and fresh gaskets and whatever else is in the area.



jp- actually i dont have to do the exhaust bellows cuz i just put thru hulls on it :cool: :cool: so . . yes it will sound a little nicer :D

thanks again for the advice :cool:

Well, it sure is a good idea to change that shift bellows while the drive is off and the gimbel being there won't bother you a bit but you are expanding your project considerably since you have to completely remove the secondary shift cable to do this. You might want to have a Merc. manual handy. And one trick that the book won't tell you about routing that cable back properly is to use the inner cable that you must remove from the back and insert it into the outer housing from the engine end as a guide before removing that outer cable housing. Then when you push it back through it (over the inner wire) it will go back from whence it came. Then pull out the inner wire and reinsert from the stern. That will save you LOTS of potential grief. Good luck! --- Jer

cool . . thanks for the info again. its my project for the week. :cool: