2006 optimax lower unit

[roygulch]

serial no. 1b417707 put in forword gear per service manual too change water pump.took lower unit off changed pump out and then put back together after ever thing was done i nnoticed a clicking noise every time i rotated the prop.it didn't matter what gear it's in.what did i do wrong.

[EuropeanAM]

Sounds like your shift shaft is not properly indexed.

[roygulch]

thanks for the quick responce Don. do i need to take the lower unit off ,or is there some thing else i need to do.

[JOE54]

yes sir you will , best to install with shifter in N and gearcase in N

[roygulch]

Joe,i'am alittle confused here.sevice manual say's to put in forward gear,if you could walk me thought it iwould appreciate it.

[JOE54]

leave shift in neutral make sure gearcase is in neutral , install , may need to rotate flywheel clockwise to align crank splines , align shift rod into coupler , do not tighten up anything until all is aligned

[roygulch]

Joe this may sound stupid but how do you tell if the lower unit is in neutral

[roygulch]

may be i should reword that to read how do i adjust the lower unit to go in neutral.

[JOE54]

you will need to rotate shift shaft to find neutral prop will spin both ways freely, shift shaft DOES NOT rotate full circle ,if its in F yu need to turn it counterclockwise one click for N

[roygulch]

nice day in michigan.i am back in the garage and still cant find neutral in the lower end i did notice that the shift shaft has and up and down movement of 1/4 in.is this normal.if anybody wants to chime in please do.

[EuropeanAM]

Some up and down movement is normal.

Normally it would have been counter-clockwise one click to hit Neutral (assuming it was in Forward).

If that doesn't work, may want to try the other direction (in case it's actually in Reverse). There's "almost" a spring-loaded feel to it as you are coming into neutral (with a noticeable "click").

[roygulch]

thank you don,i'll head back to the garage as fast as these 74 yr old legs will carrie me.

[EuropeanAM]

One thing I just thought of: Sometimes as these gearcases get some wear on them, they don't seem to want to "stay" in neutral (precisely).

If you find that you get it to Neutral and no matter what you do it pops back into gear as soon as you let go of the shaft, it may be necessary to install it in gear. I certainly PREFER neutral if it will remain there.

[roygulch]

well back from the garage,played with it for an hour as slow as i could turn the shift shaft.the prop is turing clockwise with an audblie click will not turn counter clockwise.

[EuropeanAM]

That's forward gear. Might see if a nearby dealer has the shift shaft tool and can click it into neutral for you (much easier to provide the necessary force with the correct tool).

[roygulch]

thank you Don,it's on my list of things to do.

[roygulch]

Don can i shoot you a pm.

[EuropeanAM]

Yes....

[roygulch]

i would like to thank don and joe for there help on my lower unit.i have it done now with a little help from google,5 psi at idle and12 psi at 1800 rpm on the muffs.alot better then i had before.thanks again and have a good day.