Patent ID: 7422500

Claim:
A support for an upper drive shaft and an upper gearset and a clutch assembly of a marine transmission stern drive unit having a housing with an upper case and a lower case which define an axial shaft receiving bore, said support comprising: (a) a generally axial body having a length to extend substantially the length of said upper case and defining an axial bore to receive said upper drive shaft, and wherein said axial body has an upper end and a lower end, said upper end configured to provide an upper gearset mount which allows operable engagement of said upper gearset and clutch assembly of said marine transmission stern drive unit; (b) a first retainer located adjacent said upper end of said axial body; (c) a second retainer spaced from said first retainer located adjacent to said lower end of said axial body said first retainer and said second retainer each adapted to engage a corresponding surface of said upper case, and wherein said first retainer or said second retainer axially adjusts in relation to said axial body to secure said support in said axial shaft receiving bore with said first retainer and said second retainer engaged to the corresponding surfaces of said upper case.