Looking to install a Mercury Tower of Power lower unit? Watch this video for the truth about the process, and tips on how the shift shaft should be set.
just reinstalled the lower unit on a 1984 115 merc. The ratchet strap is the best solution! Here is a sequence for alignment of water tube drive shaft and shifter. Align water tube first as it has The most play in and out. Next with the control in forward and the lower unit (LU) in forward gear ( rotate LU shifter clockwise till it stops) align the gear shifter and ratchet the LU up while aligning the shift shaft with needle nose pliers fron the place where the speedometer tube exits the LU. To get the shift spline to align rotate the LU spline while slight lifting pressure. Once the water tube and shifter are joined ratchett up again while turning the prop to align the drive shaft splines. Now ratchett and giggle the LU into final position. Check to make sure shifter is in proper position. If not, lower the LU to seperate the shifter. Have the gear control in forward. Do not rotate the prop as you already have the drive shaft aligned. rotate the LU gear spline cloclwise as far as it will go and lift the LU again using pliers on both the splines. rotate the LU spline slightly left or right to get the alignment. It should now rise easily into place as the drive shaft is already aligned. good luck with your Tower of Power!
Appreciate the timeless advice. Took mine off in Neutral and now can't get to go back on. Gonna try your trick of putting in gear in hopes that will help. Many thanks.
My lower unit stops about a quarter inch from going back together. It won't go any further by hand. Should I tighten up the bolts to finish pulling it back together?
No, do not tighten the bolts because the shift shaft didn’t align. If you like me have a 25” or longer lower unit, the shaft for the shift is very long and if the shaft is loose and you tilt the engine up a little the shift shaft will drop, so they will not align. You have to pull the engine straight so that the shift shaft coming down the engine is straight. Now, they will align.
I got my 150 mercury optimax to the 3 min mark. Will not go all way in. Looked inside and found a piece moving around where shaft comes in contact with motor. ????
I had the same issue. I used a old fishing pole to put axle grease on that loose piece until it would hold center to allow me install the shaft. hope that helps
-Put controls in forward gear -twist gear rod clockwise to go from neutral to forward -now attempt to push it the remaining distance, you may have to turn the prop by hand in order to “mate” the driveshaft spline -test that shit out
just reinstalled the lower unit on a 1984 115 merc. The ratchet strap is the best solution! Here is a sequence for alignment of water tube drive shaft and shifter.
Align water tube first as it has The most play in and out. Next with the control in forward and the lower unit (LU) in forward gear ( rotate LU shifter clockwise till it stops) align the gear shifter and ratchet the LU up while aligning the shift shaft with needle nose pliers fron the place where the speedometer tube exits the LU. To get the shift spline to align rotate the LU spline while slight lifting pressure. Once the water tube and shifter are joined ratchett up again while turning the prop to align the drive shaft splines. Now ratchett and giggle the LU into final position. Check to make sure shifter is in proper position. If not, lower the LU to seperate the shifter. Have the gear control in forward. Do not rotate the prop as you already have the drive shaft aligned. rotate the LU gear spline cloclwise as far as it will go and lift the LU again using pliers on both the splines. rotate the LU spline slightly left or right to get the alignment.
It should now rise easily into place as the drive shaft is already aligned. good luck with your Tower of Power!
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Appreciate the timeless advice. Took mine off in Neutral and now can't get to go back on. Gonna try your trick of putting in gear in hopes that will help. Many thanks.
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much!!!!! I’ve been trying to find this answer for hours.
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Wow I gave up trying to line up bottom unit, so I called the boat mechanic. This is a life saver $$
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing. I have changed several but, been a while.Thanks for showing the forward gear trick.
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Ran into this myself today!
Thanks for this video bud, will be using this technique in the morning!
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Spot on
😊
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Very easy to install
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
Good stuff - thanks!
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!
My lower unit stops about a quarter inch from going back together. It won't go any further by hand. Should I tighten up the bolts to finish pulling it back together?
No, do not tighten the bolts because the shift shaft didn’t align. If you like me have a 25” or longer lower unit, the shaft for the shift is very long and if the shaft is loose and you tilt the engine up a little the shift shaft will drop, so they will not align. You have to pull the engine straight so that the shift shaft coming down the engine is straight. Now, they will align.
I got my 150 mercury optimax to the 3 min mark. Will not go all way in. Looked inside and found a piece moving around where shaft comes in contact with motor. ????
I had the same issue. I used a old fishing pole to put axle grease on that loose piece until it would hold center to allow me install the shaft. hope that helps
What was the position you put the cam in? I can’t seem to find anything online to show me where to put it
Are you talking about the shift shaft? If so put it and your shifter in forward, that’s easiest.
@@payitforwardDIY I did that and my engine started in gear. I'm not sure what to do that I've taken it back off. (Rusty)
@@dianakesl1814mine also started in gear
When your motor starts in gear you probably bumped the prop clockwise and shifted it into gear causing it to be stuck in gear
@@dianakesl1814 read my post dated 5/20/23 to get gears right
Cant hear u
-Put controls in forward gear
-twist gear rod clockwise to go from neutral to forward
-now attempt to push it the remaining distance, you may have to turn the prop by hand in order to “mate” the driveshaft spline
-test that shit out
Where do you find the part number for the impeller?
Ran into this myself today!
Thanks for this video bud, will be using this technique in the morning!
glad to be of assistance! Like and subscribe if you like the content! I’m trying to grow my channel so I can help more people! Thanks for watching!