Bearing arrangement for marine transmission

摘要

A transmission for a marine outboard drive includes a compact bearing arrangement to provide an increased flow area for exhaust discharge behind the transmission with a lower unit of the drive. The bearing arrangement also improves the stability of a supported propulsion shaft. The bearing arrangement includes a first bearing assembly which supports the propulsion shaft at a point corresponding with the axial location at which a driving clutch is coupled to the shaft. The clutch selectively engages a driven gear of the transmission to drive the propulsion shaft. A thrust flange on the propulsion shaft desirably is positioned between the first bearing assembly and a second bearing assembly which journals the driven gear.