2005 nissan 6hp wont go in reverse

[judgejp]

Hi there, I have 2005 4 stroke 6hp nissan outboard that wont go in reverse. i tried to adjust the shift linkage but it had no affect. I took the lower unit off and with the shift rod I can feel the three postions. The prop locks up to the drive shaft in forward (shift linkage all the ways out) and releases in neutral (linkage in middle position) but when all the way in, in what should be reverse, the prop still free wheels. This is exactly how it behaves on the motor as well. Any ideas would be appreciated
Pat

[pvanv]

Year is irrelevant. I believe you may have an NS6A2, or maybe a 6B. You may have a bad clutch dog or a bad reverse gear. If you have no reverse at all when the cam rod is all the way down, there is definitely a mechanical problem. Pull the prop shaft housing and inspect the gears and clutch dog.

[judgejp]

I pulled the prop shaft and inspected the gears which visually looked ok. It seems like the cam rod and is not pushing the push rod far enough toward the prop to engage the dogs in the reverse gear. This motor has maybe ten hours on it total so i wouldn't expect major wear issues to cause this. there is about 1/8 of an inch of axial freeplay in the prop shaft , not sure if its normal. Also I havent remove the dog gear yet but the diagram shows a spring retainer inside the gear, i assume this is on the spring side of the gear pin, is this correct? Thanks for your response and assistance
Pat

[judgejp]

just a follow up. I removed the cluch pin and clutch and there was no clutch spring retainer between the pin and spring.
So can I assume this retainer sits between the push rod and the clutch and no between the spring and the clutch? I either case this part (nissan 369-64222-0) dosn't seem to be present
Thanks
Pat

[pvanv]

The 369642220M, SPRING HOLDER, $1.70, sits just aft of the push rod. It's like a "push rod extender". The PO must have lost it.

[judgejp]

Great, that was what i was hoping. I assume that piece is there to catch the spring if the clutch pin breaks? Anyways can't blame the PO because he is me and it was the result of emergency lakeside repair of gear linkage. I ordered the piece and will update when installed. Thanks for your assistance!
Pat