Guys please help! I am trying to put my outdrive back on after my motor install... it goes all the way in to the last inch... I dont know why it wont go the last inch... Any ideas?

Jared

PS: Yea I used an engine alignment tool and aligned the motor... the tool goes all the way in with out binding...

are you turning the prop shaft (with drive in gear ) to align the splines ?????

I know stipid question but have to ask

Yea the shaft slides in all but the last inch... I get two or three threads on the outdrive bolts... but it acts like its hitting something. The Prop turns counterclockwise fine... but once the shaft engauges with the splines it will not rotate clockwise.

if the alignment tool slides in and out all the way easily really all it could be is crud/dirt in the splines more then likely on the motor side if you can get ahold of someones old shaft try sliding it in.......

for the most part the alignment tool mimics the input shaft except for the splines

It's the gimbal bearing. It can go out of angular alignment by design. Take the alignment tool, insert it through the bearing as if you were checking alignment and tap the end of the tool lightly. That should line the bearing bore and let the drive go in. Don't worry about damaging the bearing this way, it is a spherical roller bearing and wont see the load from the hammer blows as long as you dont get too crazy with the hammer. I am assuming that you are using the mercruiser tool with the shoulder that contacts the bearing without the end hitting the flywheel. Alternatively, you can be more forceful putting on the drive. I've been through this and found out the hard way myself. The o-rings get pretty tight in the gimbal bearing with the smallest misalignment that you can't detect with the tool.

Rene

Ok with some umph and ass it went on... had to get it aligned just straight and it did. Now however I am turning over the engine and the blade turns with it... No matter where I shift it, it stays in forward gear!!! What did I do wrong this time?!?

Did you watch the end of the cable clip into the mechanism on the drive ? Also, did you disconnect the cable from the drive to the bracket on the engine ? This may have been why you've had the trouble.

I had it in drive so it wasnt sticking out... to be honest it took a good amount of ass to get it back on so, no I didnt see the cable clip onto the mechanism on the drive.

No the cable wasnt disconnected from the bracket that mounts on the engine. The engine at the console shifts clean like it is working right. But the outdrive is not shifting....

I know I am going to have to take it off again... any tips or ideas guys?

double check alignment,check splines thats about it......

welcome to my world, it isnt always fun

now you know why the good techs arent cheap

When you remove the drive carefully inspect the shift mechanism/cable end.