Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing improved oil circulation in a marine propulsion system. A supply passage is formed in the gearcase, having its inlet in communication with a space located forwardly of the lower face of the driven gear located in the propeller shaft cavity. The supply passage communicates oil to a drive shaft housing supply passage, and communication between the drive shaft housing supply passage and the upper cavity formed in the drive shaft housing, within which are disposed the lower and upper gears and the input gear, is cut off. Oil flowing through the drive shaft housing supply passage is routed to the universal joint bearings, and temperature of oil at the universal joint bearings is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A marine drive (10) is provided with a shift mechanism (200) including a detent canister assembly (202). A cylindrical canister (204) contains a ball (206) biased by a pair of concentric springs (208 and 210) into engagement with a shifter lever arm (124) to center the latter in a neutral position. The canister assembly (202) is a self-contained modular unit inserted into the marine drive housing (23). The cylindrical canister (204) has a left end wall (214) with an aperture (216) therethrough and has an open right end containing the ball (206). The first spring bears (208) at its right end against the ball (206) and extends axially leftwardly through the aperture (216) in the left end wall (214) of the canister (204) and bears at its left end against the housing (23). The second outer concentric spring (210) bears at its right end against the ball (206) and is entirely within the canister ( 204) and bears at its left end against the left end wall (214) of the canister (204).