Alright, I posted a while back about the square keeper key coming out on my gdlt. I replaced the shaft just like Mr. Coco said and ran the piss out of it. I put probably 100 miles on the thing over the past 3 months. I thought all was well, but I was wrong. Was yoyoing last weekend and the key came out again. Is it possible I didn't have it in good, or do you guys think it's something else? I've got the split yoke u joint, and it looks good as new. The shaft didn't wear any this time, and I beat the dog snot out of it when putting it in, just as Mr. Coco said to. Mr. Coco said "Not even God himself can make that key stay if it's not tight." Well, I had it tight, so I'm lost as to what to do now. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.


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I had the press fitting in my gdlt does the split yoke use an oversize key?


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Yessir, it uses an oversized key.

Man it has to be the key not setting completely. I've rebuilt a whole bunch of outdrives on these longtails and the only times anyone has had an issue is when they try to reseat the key and don't get it tight. I remember your post a while back and hate your having the issues, but if you are confident you are getting the key set in the keyway as tight as you can, you've got an issue with the motor shaft.

I'm thinking I may not have had the key all the way in, there was about 1/4 inch sticking out when I put it in. I'm going to try it again this weekend. But just so we're clear, the split yoke goes on the shaft, not the crankshaft, correct? Lol. That may sound dumb, but you saying it may be the motor shaft makes me wonder if I've got the u joint on backwards. I appreciate your help man.


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There are some beefier set screws, don't forget to use the recommended Loctite!

I'm open to any suggestions. Lol. I'll Loctite the piss out of them.


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Drill a demple into your shaft for the set screw to seat in. That plus loctite is great. I also loc tited my keyways to the shaft

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

I ended up putting a spot weld on mine. Got everything installed, adjusted and situated as it should be, installed set screws with loc-tite and put a small tack on each end of the yokes. Never had any more issues after that.

Alrighty, I'll let you guys know how it does once I get a chance to try it again! Thanks


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Finally was able to work on it this past Sunday. I ran into another problem... The threads where the cap goes on tube the shaft runs through on the motor end had broken off on one side... I was able to force it back on and it seems to be doing as it should. I'm not losing any grease and it is not running hot. As far as the key goes, I was able to get it in all the way this time. I went and ran it for about 2 hours and did not have any trouble. Hopefully it stays in place! Thanks for the help guys.

You can take a picture of what you need and the folks at gd will hook you up. As far as your key goes. I would have loc tite'd it or tack welded it. My experience they come out whenever they want.. no matter what even an oversized key can shake loose and wear over time. Nothing worse than hearing that sharp "ping" and all of a sudden you're in shit creek. Happened to me and I had to walk 3 miles up river pushing my boat back to the ramp. In about a 10mph current. Shittiest walk ever.

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

I would have tac welded had it not been a brand new shaft... I just hate to do that to a new shaft. lol. If it does it again that's what I'm doing.

With my first motor, 1n 18 HP GD Briggs, the key slipped out when I was camping up a river...I managed to wedge some sardine can keys in and it held till I got back to the landing some 7 miles back, of course I putted slowly. Sardines tasted good.

I lock tited mine (blue loc tite) Into the keyway And they've been that way for awhile. You can still bang em out with a hammer if you need to change u joints or shaft bushings.

It's simple. get a mud motor. shoot ducks in the face.

I never could get mine to stay even with some sorta unicorn piss loc-tite we use at work. I drilled dimples in the shaft, I used good pointed set screws, aircraft wired the heads, you name it. I put a little baby tack on it and never had another moments issue. When I came time to take it apart I bumped it with a grinder and it came apart. Took a file and knocked the bump off the shaft and you'd never know it was there...