1979 115 I6 Water Impeller Problem

[romanowichm]

Hey guys,

I just replaced my impeller. Bolted everything backup and put it on the muffs. To my surprise, the prop was turning when the control box was in neutral. I then went to shift into reverse, and nothing. Tried shifting into forward and still no change. Prop just kept spinning like it was in forward. I obviously did not line up the shift shaft correctly. Any tips on what to do now in order to get the shift shaft to line up properly?

[Jeff_G]

Drop the lower unit. Put control in neutral, Manually shift the lower unit shift shaft into neutral. Try shifting to reverse, then neutral, forward back to neutral to ensure you are in neutral. Bolt up the lower unit making sure the shift shaft meshes properly. To help align the crankshaft and driveshaft turn the flywheel with the key off and plugs out.

[mercjockey]

We always drop them in foward. So when they go back up, you can use the prop to turn the shaft in the motor.

[Raceman]

We always drop them in foward. So when they go back up, you can use the prop to turn the shaft in the motor.

Maybe so, and many Merc mechanics who have "the feel" do it that way also.......... but for people who do them occasionally, it's easier to do them in neutral. Neutral has a positive detent position. When the gearcase is shifted into foward the shiftshaft can continue to rotate out of phase, since there is no positive stop on it.

I've probably had gearcases on/off inline Mercs 100 times or more and I still do it the way Jeff_G describes. May be a tad more trouble, but it's virtually idiot proof, and I need all the help I can get.;)