1967 Evinrude lark shift problem

[dubstar0ck]

hi all, i bought a 1967 aluminum goods ltd with 40hp evinrude o/b motor boat 3 years ago couldnt get it started back then so it sat in the back yard. i decided to finally give it another shot this time with the prev owner's help (my coworker). before i owned the boat he said it sat for 7years and had no problems starting and running it but he did have a shifting problem. before the prev owner parked it he lost forward gear and thought it was the remote switch, he swaped it for a "new" used one and decided to park it without testing it out.

with that said it brings us to the present day. i've been reading constantly on iboats for the past 4day haha very helpful btw.

i got the motor running but its a bit smokey blue smoke to be exact, im thinking its because of the old gas and rich mixture of oil (2years). o/b spits a bit of water out im assuming thats a good thing.
heres the o/b info 1965 EVINRUDE 40HP MODEL NUMBER 40573A
im confused to which shift i have, either selectric or hydro-electric
ive tested the remote switch and it turns out i have a hydro electric push switch and its good (12V green = N, 12V blue+green = R)
i tried jumping the blue wire down to the leg with 12V and it locks in one direction, no wires connected it spins freely, 12V to green i get nothing, 12V to green+blue it locks in the same direction as 12V to blue.

im thinking the l/u is damaged and im scared of taking it apart. but if you have any suggestions or info i'd really appreciate it.

thanks, marc

[F_R]

Yep, you guessed correctly. Very probable the forward clutch spring is broken. Why??? because somebody put a Hydro-Electric switch in the control. The first time the reverse button was pushed, it went into both forward and reverse gear at the same time. Since it is impossible to rotate two directions at the same time, something had to break. Usually a clutch spring, sometimes it will twist the drive shaft in two. But we know the drive shaft is ok.

Sorry, but the lower unit has to come apart.

[dubstar0ck]

thanks for quick reply F_R!!
yeah thats what im thinking. well im almost prepared to tear her down just wondering if its possible to swap clutch springs or coils i.e take reverse (because its working) and swaping it to forward, is it possible?

[F_R]

It is possible, but obviously you then won't have reverse. Don't try to swap the complete gear/spring/hub assembly. I don't even know if that is possible, but if it is you will have the bearings in the wrong position and it will soon fail.