changed impeller-now no neutral

[1fife]

well i finally got the impeller in.

motor will start, can swicth to forwrd and reverse, but can press in button and get more rpms in neutral. I hooked up to hose and gears works(foward and reverse).Reverse might be slightly harder to put in gear(not positive). Im getting water pressure-any advice?

[Big Frank 25]

Without the engine running, in neutral can you turn the prop by hand freely?

[lawnboy]

Funny thing you are writing this I just read an article in the bass and walleye mag on changing an impeller and they were talking about some adjusting rod that if off by only a 1/32 that the linkage would not work right.

[ESOX]

Sounds like the shift rod isn't put back together properly.

[FREEPOP]

Yeah, I think it took me three times to get the darned thing lined up correctly.

[1fife]

ok-ill yank it out again today

i just hope to do it in 2 tries so i am better than freepop

[FREEPOP]

1fife, make sure your handle is in neutral. Loosen the bolts on the lower unit, and you should be able to see where the linkage should line up. It might help to have an assitant move the control lever while you watch so you can see what moves and how it should ine up. On Merc outdrives there is a shaft that has a U-shaped piece of metal welded to it. The lower unit has a mating piece that goes into the U. It's difficult to explain but with this description I think you'll recognize.

[STEINFISHSKI]

Some outdrive units require it to be in gear while reassembling. His was installed in nuetral and he had problems. He then installed it in gear and it worked for him. Check with the manual though to be sure.

[Mad Jack]

1fife
I agree with Steinfishski

I just did my impeller last year and the step dads this year.
1 was a 89 Crestliner
the other was older
Both has the alpha out drives.

Atleast on ours the manual called for it to be in forward gear.

Like Freepop says check that u-bracket thing on the lowwer unit
another thing is check the cable for adjusment. If it's older that might be some also.

Hope this helps.

[WALLDADY]

1fife , Mad Jack is right . My 1981 Merc. has to be in forward gear before dropping the lower unit . I did the same thing 3 times before I figured it out . I think if you drop the lower unit and then move your shifter to forward and reinstall , I beleive that will do it . If it was in neutral the first time you did it , put it there and go for it .

Good Luck ,, and let us know how it turns out .


Good Luck and Safe Trips ....... Walldady

[SalmonSlayer]

My 88 horse 1990 Johnson had to be in REVERSE according to the manual. So I'd check a manual for your motor and go with that. I may have lucked out cuz mine's working fine, at least checking by hand with the motor off. We'll see soon as I plan to put it in the water for a test session.

I had the darndest time trying to get the shaft splines to line up just right so it could slide up into place and I could secure it with a bolt. Whew! It took me like 8 or 9 tries...and usually each try I ended up knocking the o-ring on the shaft out of place or the exhaust housing gasket would come off. Since I was by myself, I had to completely remove the lower unit and set it in the workbench to put the things back on.:( Oh well, it's done now and hopefully working correctly.

[Mad Jack]

1fife

Did you get your boat back going again??
With forward & Reverse? ;)

[1fife]

yes

i yanked it all out and did it again(the same way) and it worked the second time