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problem installing lower unit on mercury 9.8 hp 1976

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kbeers

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I replaced an impeller on a 1976 mercury 9.8. However when I installed the lower unit back on it seems as I have forward where neutral should be and neutral where reverse should be can anyone tell me what I did wrong and how to fix this problem?I am a rookie and trying to fix my own motor any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Re: problem installing lower unit on mercury 9.8 1976

Ha!.........Sounds like me.....don't feel alone!
 
Re: problem installing lower unit on mercury 9.8 1976

kbeers said:
I replaced an impeller on a 1976 mercury 9.8. However when I installed the lower unit back on it seems as I have forward where neutral should be and neutral where reverse should be can anyone tell me what I did wrong and how to fix this problem?I am a rookie and trying to fix my own motor any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
You didnt have the shift linkage set properly when you brought the pieces together is all. Take it apart again, set the lower unit in forward gear and the shift linkage from the upper unit in forward and slide them together being carefull not to disturb the settings. Check your work befor bolting everything up. No big deal, we all do it at one time or another.
 
Those are a DOG to reassemble! It's best to do them upside down, using a mini light to see if the shifter is centered in the tower (and, if not, centering it). Also, you MUST not force the shifter parts together--and they go only one way. (Jamb it together wrong and it can pull the shifter out of the lower unit when you separate it!)

Let me know if you need help when the parts arrive.

Jeff
 
First 2 attempts were no-go. The lower unit just hangs up before the water tube even connects. Jiggled the shifter and rotated the flywheel by slightly pulling the pull starter. Hmmm.... Just going to take a break and think about it. Seems something just isn't lining up.
 
The shifter shaft (coming from the top) is not lined up. Use a small flashlight and you'll see that it's off. With the motor upside down, poke at it with a Phillips screw driver until it's centered, then try again. DON'T force the thing together or you'll be really sorry! It has to go together by itself. And if you can't make the shifter center itself, stop and get back to me-I have a trick to 'cure' that.

Jeff

PS: Those who've actually done a few 'Slanters' know how stubborn they can be.
 
Got it! Thanks fastjeff and racerone. The upside down trick worked. I was missing the upper hole for the drive shaft. Thanks for warning me about using force. Once it lined up it just slipped right in. Now for a barrel of water to test the impeller. The tilt latch is sticky and won't let it drop into reverse unless I click the lock-out mechanism onto the pin. Hmmm....
 
Only "45 years"? Newbee. (Going on 56 years.)

Good man! I'll ship you all my Slanters to stuff the LU back up there.

Jeff
 
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Jeff,
What's the trick? I'm having this same problem getting the gears to line up, but have a 1999 150hp and can't turn it upside down.
Thx.
 
It may be that the LU sifter shaft isn't lining up with the shifter piece coming down from above.

If a motor has power tilt, Merc leaves out the cam (that locks the motor down in reverse). That cam also aligns the two parts. I too have had problems when the cam is missing, so I make up a centering deal out of rubber hoses (one inside another) to center the top part of the shifter. LU goes right on then.

Jeff
 
fastjeff said:
The shifter shaft (coming from the top) is not lined up. Use a small flashlight and you'll see that it's off. With the motor upside down, poke at it with a Phillips screw driver until it's centered, then try again. DON'T force the thing together or you'll be really sorry! It has to go together by itself. And if you can't make the shifter center itself, stop and get back to me-I have a trick to 'cure' that.

Jeff

PS: Those who've actually done a few 'Slanters' know how stubborn they can be.
Click to expand...
Hey Jeff, I've got one of those 'slanters'
What's your trick?

I've tried upside down, horizontal on the stand.
I hope I don't have to do a handstand to get it.
 
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