1972 80HP Merc Lower unit install problems

[Larry Reaney]

"Hi all,
I hope someone out t

"Hi all,
I hope someone out there can tell the little trick to this. I have a 1972 80HP Mercury Long shaft outboard. I installed a new water pump kit, everything went great. To put this lower unit back on I did the following. I cleaned all the surfaces, shaft and so on. Greased everything up with a good marine grease. I made sure the splines were greased and wiped the top of the shaft of excess grease so not to cause harm to the power head or lower unit with trapped air. I made sure the controls were in the same place as when I removed the lower unit (In forward). I get the lower unit within like a 1/4" of total seating and there it stops. Also at that point when I shift the controls, they shift fine, just nothing is happening in the lower unit....the prop is still in forward gear. Is there a little trick to where the shifter piece on the lower unit should be...it came off when I tipped the lower unit upside down to shake the junk I cleaned out of it. It shifted great before I removed the lower unit by the way. Thanks to anyone with some help on this. Larry"

 

[charli]

"Larry,
Sounds like it is not

"Larry,
Sounds like it is not staying in forward when you are installing the lower unit.
It may work better if you remove the prop if you haven't.
If the prop moves even a little it can kick the shift dog out of true forward. This could be the problem. One term is the timing is off on the linkage but it just comes down to it not being in alignment.

It could make it easier for you if you mark the linkage rod so you can see if it has moved while lifting the lower unit into place.

Good luck."

 

[Chris1956]

"Larry, You might like to put

"Larry, You might like to put both the motor and LU into Neutral. It may be easier to line up both shif shafts. The LU shifter will "click" into neutral and stay there. Make sure it is the correct neutral, since there are two. Also, there is a plastic fitting that fits into the misdection and holde the upper shift shaft into position to mate with the LU. This piece frequently falls into the LU, around the shift shaft. Stick it in the midsection with some grease or something."