I am having trouble reinstalling my stern drive ,I CAN GET IT PART WAY IN BUT CAN`T GET IT ALL THE WAY IN . THE BOAT IS A 1988 CHRIST CRAFT WITH A 5 .7 MERCUISER
Optional Information: Make (of engine): 5.7 Model (of engine): MERCUISER Year: 1988 Horsepower: 350 Already Tried: I HAVE PUT THE DRIVE SHAFT IN IT GOES ABOUT IN BUT CAN`T GET IT LINED UP WITH THE INSIDE SPLEEN ?
Hello, welcome to JustAnswer.
Do you have the drive in forward gear? It should be. and the shift lever also needs to be in forward gear. This problem is the reason for that If you have both in gear already, you need to rotate the drive shaft, backwards (in the direction the prop would spin if the motor were in reverse) while you push the drive up. You will feel the splines line up.
Then you just need to line up the water tube and shift rod and you are home.
I have tried again to get the shaft to lne up , the boat is in the forward gear and water tub and shift rod seem to be lined up but still will not line up prop still turns freely .
Keep in mind, I don't know your skill level, ok? Don't get mad if this is obvious to you. lol
If you have never done this before, this is a far cry from obvious.
When you have the drive lowered like that, it is vital you don't turn the prop shaft the wrong way. Even a little, kicks the drive out of gear and back into neutral. If you can turn the prop shaft by hand easily, you are in neutral. If that is the case, turn the shift rod on the lower unit counter clockwise. It wont go far that direction, but that will put your drive back into forward gear.
Then throw a rag over the splines of the prop shaft, and some padding on your knee, and hold the drive up against the upper while you turn the prop shaft in reverse using a pair of channel locks. You wont have to turn it much to get it to align.
Experience: 12 years Certified marine mechanic, performance boat builder