Replacing ball gears and drive shaft bearings

[jakeboat]

Hi, I am new to this site and recently purchased a boat i dont know much about. Its a 1974 Sea Ray SRV 190 w/ ford 302 engine and a 190 HP OMC Sterndrive motor. The prop is not engaging ( I have been told the ball gears are both torn up and not good) , and was wondering if some one can help me find out how to replace these (youtube video, manuals, etc)? I was also told my drive shaft is loose, and is probably caused because of some bearing with the shaft (the loose shaft could have also been the reason the ball gears got torn up). Any advice and tips are helpful. Thanks! Good to be on board!

 

[john81]

This outdrive is a elec. shift. turn key on put in gear & see if prop moves by hand. If both balls or bad they will be worn off. On drive shaft pull plate off and pull shaft out & there or 2 roller bearing back to back. Look at bearing & races for pitting. If bad press off bearing & get # off bearing & seals &take to bearing supply. these will look like outer wheel bearings off a car. If its elec shift mite be hard to find. John.

 

[AnchorsAweigh]

I owned a Larson boat for many years with this same drive train, I am very familiar with it and still have it for nostalgic reasons. It is an electric shift and how it works is a magnet that pulls the gear into engagement. These magnet coils (fwd/rev) should measure 4ohms if they are good. There is also a spring tensioner for each that eases the engagement, much like the spark interupter on shift cables. Sometimes the ear tab on the springs would snap off and then not engage into gear. As these are the worst case scenarios, it could be as simple as a broken or loose wire all the way up to the shifter.
With regard to the ball gears (aka "knuckle gears"), they would have to be completely destroyed and gone for not going into gear, I doubt that. You can see them when you tilt the lower unit up. If they are more than half worn off they should be replaced, but if they are still there this is not your problem. Also, they turn all the time when your motor is running - fwd/nuetral/rev.
Lastly, there are many internal drive shafts and gear sets, I've had just about every one break on me over the 15 or so years I drove that boat. Your problem could be anywhere. You need to dig into it or find someone very familiar with these things to determine the problem.
I loved that motor and loved the way it shifted in and out of gear. There is nothing smoother, too bad they couldn't have improved somehow.
Good Luck!!