Reply To: 1982 Mercury 7.5 hp Impeller job HELP!

[Buccaneer]

It took another 1/2 hour of finagling, but I finally
got the gear case bolted on.
I tried forward, and reverse to engage the shift
rod, but it was finally neutral that ended up working
for me.

Notes to Self:
If I were to do another Mercury (and I basically have the same
motor that my dad bought in 1973) I’d have a “loose”
gearcase shift rod, where one could test the engagement
and position of the receiver spline.
It’s about impossible for me to hold the flashlight,
and look down the shift shaft hole, and tell where
the “flat” is in the splined socket.
(I say look “down” the hole because I had the motor
upside down on the bench)

The driveshaft “touches base” before the shift rod shaft.
I wasn’t sure about this, but (when in neutral) I pulled
the engine over a tad and the gear case dropped down
another 1/4″ or so.
It then took a little wiggling of the shift lever to get the
gear case to home base.
I’m not sure why none of this work yesterday. 🙁

I’m now draining the gear case to put in fresh lube……
hopefully the Merc takes generic Marine gear lube,
as that’s all I have.

I hope the engine isn’t flooded from being upside down.
When uprighted, carbon soaked gas dripped out of
the exhaust around the prop shaft.
Thanks for the suggestions!

Prepare to be boarded!