What did I do wrong? Getting the lower unit back on/adjusting shift cables

[Nevek]

I had to replace the exhaust tube/power head gaskets on my 1988 Mercury Pro Fifty 45 HP. I tried marking the shift/throttle cables with tape so I wouldn't move them too much. Now that it's all back together, the only way I could get the lower unit back on is if I had the throttle lever in reverse. Once I got it on, the throttle lever wouldn't go back to neutral. What is the proper procedure for adjusting the shift/throttle cables and getting this lower unit back on right?

[pointer]

Sounds like your lower is in Fwd and won't shift any further. If the shift shaft is the splined one, your lower didn't go back up the way it came down.
Drop the lower, shift the control box into Fwd. Shift the lower into Fwd (watch the rotation of the shift shaft as someone else shifts the control box. Slide the lower up, little pressure on prop to keep it in gear. Rotate the prop to line the driveshaft /crankshft splines. Line up the shift shaft, and the water tube, and slide the lower up and bolt her on.
Sounds easy, harder to do... . Take your time, and good luck.
pointer

[Varmint]

I think you have the shift shaft out of position, i personally re/re them in neutral, some guys like it in fwd. gear. You need to get the l/u into neutral , and get a helper, slide the unit up into the motor, making sure to engage the water tube,and have your buddy align the teeth on the shifter and the shaft as you apply light pressure. If they dont fully mesh together then while mainting light pressure, have your buddy slowly turn the flywheel, they will eventually fully engage each other and the l/u will fall into place , get your bud to get a couple nuts on it so you can let go now! Lol, plse be safe, and undo the coil or plug wires, in case the thing fires while turning the flywheel. Your cables will easily adjust once your shift shaft is in the correct position.

[kingsbiship]

I also do mine in neutral.... no play in the shaft that way! Otherwise it is sloppy as all HeIL

[Nevek]

Sounds like your lower is in Fwd and won't shift any further. If the shift shaft is the splined one, your lower didn't go back up the way it came down.
Drop the lower, shift the control box into Fwd. Shift the lower into Fwd (watch the rotation of the shift shaft as someone else shifts the control box. Slide the lower up, little pressure on prop to keep it in gear. Rotate the prop to line the driveshaft /crankshft splines. Line up the shift shaft, and the water tube, and slide the lower up and bolt her on.
Sounds easy, harder to do... . Take your time, and good luck.
pointer

Thanks! How should I put the lower into FWD? Some pliers?





I think you have the shift shaft out of position, i personally re/re them in neutral, some guys like it in fwd. gear. You need to get the l/u into neutral , and get a helper, slide the unit up into the motor, making sure to engage the water tube,and have your buddy align the teeth on the shifter and the shaft as you apply light pressure. If they dont fully mesh together then while mainting light pressure, have your buddy slowly turn the flywheel, they will eventually fully engage each other and the l/u will fall into place , get your bud to get a couple nuts on it so you can let go now! Lol, plse be safe, and undo the coil or plug wires, in case the thing fires while turning the flywheel. Your cables will easily adjust once your shift shaft is in the correct position.

[Varmint]

Ya vise grip or big channel locks.

[Nevek]

Excellent, thank you.

One other question. On the lower unit splines, there is a large stainless dohickey that I think is for when you run aground or maybe when you put the motor in reverse. Its function if I were to guess is to either lock the motor down in reverse so it doesn't come flying up or maybe to unlock it so it can pop up when you run aground. It can go onto the lower splines a number of different ways, does anyone know how this is supposed to line up?