quote Callie30R:
make sure the ball bearing is not loose they didn’t last long and when they get loose even a properly shimmed trunion will separate
This is a very good point, too. I have seen that a lot, as well as the missing thrust washer. You can still get those bearings new, from a bearing supply house and they’re not too much money. In the transmission, there is a basically a big, tall, stack of parts, going all the way up to the top of the water pump. All the parts must be there, be in good condition and the left hand nut be properly tightened. Then the whole thing is taken into consideration with a special Mercury shim tool and shims are added or subtracted, to give proper end play. Anything in the stack that allows too much end play will allow the big coil spring to slip in between the two drums and be ruined.
Long live American manufacturing!