Outdrive wont go back on , shifter spline

[joseph lamb]

Well, I have a 2001 200hp ox66 regular old tried and true Yamaha .

Put a new water pump in it a few years ago and had no problem getting it back together.

Today , it will not go back together , and the shift spine now looks
a little gaulded up .
It went together to about 1/2 inch from mating up . I lightly tightened the bolts and it would not slide together all the way .

Any ideas on what is wrong here . It all looks simple to me , but ......

This is a corrosion free motor , seems like the shifter rod is not lining up

with the shift spline to me , dont want to destroy all of it .

I have moved the shifter around to no avail , and it is in neutral ...

Joe in Tampa

[boats.net]

Make sure gearcase and shifter on motor are in neutral or in same gear to align shift shaft. Pull landyard cord and make ignition switch is off so engine wont try to start and have someone turn flywheel while pushing up on gearcase to align drive shaft splines.

[joseph lamb]

thanks for the info ,

will give it a try later today

Joe in Tampa

[TownsendsFJR1300]

WP

The water pump tube may be off slightly as well as that engauges fully near the end. You probably have close to 3" of drive shaft spline that's already engauged...

If the end of the splines are torn up, a wire brush may be enough to clean it up. Dont force it.