Pulled it out of storage this weekend

[BillK2632]

Even here in NC I winterize lat Nov - early Mar. Marina is closed on weekends during the winter and except for a few days it's really to cold to be out in an open boat, so I just put it up. So had it put on a wash rack Saturday, got the drive back on and fired it up - started up and ran like it was just put away yesterday!

Couple of interesting things:

• I decided to pull the drive and store in my garage over the winter - first time doing this. I made a little cover for the bell housing (boat is stored in 3 sided dry storage)
• Before I put the drive back on, check the alignment with my tool - slides in fine / easily and I can turn it with two fingers easily. Same as always.
• Had trouble getting the drive on the last inch or so. I don't know if it was that the steering was turn a to one side or what. I struggled with it awhile, then stopped pulled it off and checked everything, then it went on, but I still had to give it a pretty good push - seems in the past it has gone on easier. Once I got the nuts started it snugged up with no problem, there was never a "hard" stop like when the shifter is in the wrong postion or the splines are not lined up, just a tight fit in the last inch. The one difference is I had a Sierra gasket set from when I bought my shift cable kit last year. First time using a Sierra vs OEM gasket set - could the O rings maybe be slightly larger on the Sierra kit?
• Also, back in the winter I replaced my fuel fill hose, it was original and I had had issues with the fuel feed line a couple years ago and figured it would be a good idea to change the fill - was was pretty hard and permeated, had a gasoline smell on the outside.

Other than it taking longer than expected to get the drive on, all seems well.

No big mechanical projects this spring, ready to go boating!

 

[Strecker25]

I noticed the same thing with the sierra gasket kit. I went OEM merc this time and it clunked right on without any major force. I bet the O ring is just a bit bigger.

 

[BillK2632]

Ok, well that makes me feel better. First time I have used the Sierra gasket set. I think I will stick with the OEM on them going forward - this one was included in the shift cable kit I bought last year. I've pulled my drive a dozen times over the years, but still worry that everything when back on right - like I said, didn't pull at the mallet or anything, but definitely had to put some weight into it.

 

[Strecker25]

Ok, well that makes me feel better. First time I have used the Sierra gasket set. I think I will stick with the OEM on them going forward - this one was included in the shift cable kit I bought last year. I've pulled my drive a dozen times over the years, but still worry that everything when back on right - like I said, didn't pull at the mallet or anything, but definitely had to put some weight into it.

Yeah, I ordered the Sierra's the last time because they were on amazon prime but this time around I went with the local WM and got the quicksilver stuff. I'm sure they're both fine but like you I always have anxiety about that drive to housing connection, it's pretty important.

 

[Bt Doctur]

The gasket and rubber O ring have nothing to do with a drive being tight to seat fully.
Either the alignment is off a bit or there is rust/crud on the inputshaft.
Properly adjusted and installed correctly you should be able to push the drive on to within an 1/8 th inch Push, NOT KICK

 

[Strecker25]

The gasket and rubber O ring have nothing to do with a drive being tight to seat fully.
Either the alignment is off a bit or there is rust/crud on the inputshaft.
Properly adjusted and installed correctly you should be able to push the drive on to within an 1/8 th inch Push, NOT KICK

With the sierra kit mine went on smooth to about 1/8-1/4" and needed some love to get fully seated. I assumed that was the input shaft O-rings hanging up on the gimbal bearing?

 

[BillK2632]

Yeah, like I said, I had to push and shake on it to get it to finally slide on, it was the last 1/2 inch or so (where the dribble valve starts to go in) - up to that point it slid on smooth. I also recall hear what sounded like a release of air when it finally slid on - I've put this drive on/off plenty of times and have never heard that sound before. Otherwise it seemed to bolt up, ran the moder, no strange sounds or anything. I did use my alignment tool to check it, tool slid in and turned easily like always. The only other thing different this year is I took the drive off and stored it in my garage over the winter.