I changed my water pump on my 87 135 Mariner. But when I went to reinstall the lower unit, I can't get it! Me and my buddy have been wrestling this for 3 hours. We had it in once, but forgot the washers and had to take back out. I don't know if the shaft isn't lined up or if the water tube isn't fitting or what, but about 2 inches from all the way, we get stuck! Please help, have to have this put back on tonight!

If you have a kill switch on the motor ( Pull so motor won't crank ) Your drive shaft is not lining up and you need to bump the motor just a little to get it lined up. Or the shifter rod is not lining up.

We have tried bumping the motor over and over. And it is not to the gear shift yet so it ain't that. It might be the water tube but it looks like that's lining up right too. This has been hours, and this thing still won't get on. The shaft should be lined up, Im looking at the hole and looking where the knobs should be and we keep twisting a tad before every try. Still, no go.

There is only three things that can keep it from not going together.

1- Drive shaft not lined up ( This should line up before the Gear shifter

2- Gear shifter not lined up

3- Water pump sleave not lining up

Make sure every part is clean and has some grease on the tips.

Thats all I can tell you Blaine

Thanks guys. FINALLY got it. I think it was the water tube. Ended up tying a piece of fishing line to the tube and held it up while my buddy pushed so they would line up. Then had one man turning the flywheel and one man pushing and she finally sank. Darn thing better work now. Ha thanks guys!

 My son-in-law has an older Merc and we like to have NEVER got it lined up and together. FINALLY!!! Myself, I don't think he was holding his mouth right :-/ ...

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