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Install a 85 hp Mercury lower unit

J

Jim M

New member
Please help! I have pulled out the lower unit on a 1973, 85hp Mercury. I put it in and all I have forward, no neutral and reverse. I don't know to aline the shift shaft with the shift lever? Also there is a vinyl cam on the shift shaft but were does it go? Striper season is almost over and I am desperate.
thanks
Jim
 
Hi Jim,
Rotate the shift shaft in the lower unit until find the gear selection points,three clicks close together,middle is neutral, R- N- F.Put control in neutral and put back together,you will need a helper to turn the flywheel to align the drive shaft.It doesn't matter what gear it is in as long as lower unit and control are in same gear.
There should be a plastic tube to help line up the water tube,it's probably on the tube.
The cam is for the reverse lock,when the motor is put in neutral or reverse the lock rod is pushed up and the hooks lock on the tilt pin.Not needed if you have power tilt.Assuming it's the black one you are talking about.The other one is shift shaft and reverse lock rod guide,you can see the rod sticking out.
 

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Thanks so much for the help. I don't forsee any problem with the water tube, however, when I put the shift shaft and the control in neutral is it ok to jiggle the control a little bit in order to align the spline? Also, when shift shaft is in nuteral do I put the cam (a black one) on so that it holds the reverse lock guide up?
 
I've learned NOT to use neutral, for a slight bump and the LU is in forward. The important thing is to get all the slack out of the LU side before stabbing her up there. And if you don't have a helper, a stout bungee cord will take the weight as you mess with that #)~()$%@%^ water tube.

Jeff
 
fastjeff said:
for a slight bump and the LU is in forward Jeff
Click to expand...
True and a few times I've prayed,not the sort you would hear on a Sunday morning:D but it seems to align easier in neutral for me though others find it easier in fwd and others rev.
As I don't have a helper these days,daughter #3 in Uni and ever patient wife not in best of health,I move the control lever,keeping it in neutral,until I see the splines line up,there's not a lot of room for manoeuvre,then shove and pray the prayers you should hear on a Sunday morning,and revert to others when it doesn't work:D ,so fwd just out of the neutral dent will give you room to jiggle the control lever to line up.
If you don't have power tilt then you need the cam to engage the reverse lock to stop the motor kicking up out of the water when in reverse.
 
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Holy Mackrel! You may or may not believe what I just did. I went outside and in just 30 minutes I had the lower unit off and reinstalled. Started it up and IT WORKS PERFECTLY. 1st time forevrything I guess. OH by the way, I installed it In netural and all by myself. Thank you Lord, and thank everyone for your very helpful suggestions.

Jim
 
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