Re: 25 hp mercury shifting problems help please
I'm assuming from your description of the problem that it's real stiff and won't go?
I've seen a fair amount of tiller-shift motors have binding shift linkage.
Seems that the plastic material of the shifting arm (lever) - the one actually attached to the lower unit's shift rod - swells up and then binds. No amount of lubrication can fix this, because the clearances are too tight.
The fix for this would be to replace this shifting arm. Or, in a pinch, sand or otherwise grind down the swollen material until it fits properly.
Best way to figure this out is to uncouple the shift arm from the shifting rod. There's a latch to pull up, then this piece pulls straight out to the side. It has a pin which engages the hole in the shift rod.
At this point, the shift rod should be free to move up and down. You can grab hold of the rod at any accessible point on its length and attempt to shift. If you turn the prop a bit at the same time it'll help. Be sure the kill switch is engaged and both plug wires are pulled!!
If the lower unit won't shift manually, you've got issues down there. But I bet your problem is in the upper end. With the shift rod disconnected you'll have a better chance of narrowing down the problem.
Here's a link to a picture of what I'm talking about. Probably not your exact model but the design is common and similar in most of these:
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...hrottle+and+Shift+Linkage(Tiller+Handle+Shift)
The piece I'm talking about is "Ref 12", "LEVER, Horizontal Shift Shaft, Port"
Also check part #13, the main shift shaft for binding.
Note: part #11 in the diag, the backplate lever, is the piece that locks the shift rod to the shift arm.
HTH & let us know what you find.........ed
