Evinrude 50hp 1973

[bagnallt]

HI guys... I just got an this 50 p 1973 evinrude. I pulled the bottom unit to change the impellor. And all went well. However .. when i refitted the unit, bolted on great no problem. I reattached the shifter. It will not go into forward or reverse. And to make matters worse,,, the part which hold the the shifter snapped. ( I saw a crack in it when I loosened it.)
Ok this appears to be what happenned with the shifter... My 4 year old son turned the shifter I dont know how many times. I found out just prior to posting. So my questions are........ Does the shifter screw into the gear case. If so then i what lenght should it be to be in neutral, reverse and forward.
Question two ... I guess i have to remove the lower unit again to measure the lenght.
Question three, which way does it turn to make the shafter shorter or longer.
Question four .. Wil i be able to find the part. and is the number stamped on it the part no... its 318556-3
Thanks
TONY

[tashasdaddy]

you really need and OEM manual. mine only goes to 72, there was a change in 73, so it won't help. outboardbooks.com or ebay.

[bagnallt]

thanks Tashasdaddy... I will hunt one down.

[dancudayo]

I have the same one but a Johnson, I'm not an expert but with mine I can just pull on the shifter rod up or down and then spin the prop shaft by hand, you should be able to tell if it is in neutral if you don't feel any of the gears engaged while you spin the prop shaft.

[wavrider]

Did you change the lube oil in the foot also when you were doing the maintenance on the water pump?

Only thing I can think of that would cause it not to shift at all is two things.

1) the shift linkage not connected at all, seems like it would still push down on the rod and make it go in reverse and not be able to shift out of reverse if this was the case.

2) If the screw that holds the cradle for the clutch dog was removed and then re installed without being through the clutch dog cradle, this would jam the cradle assembly
and not be able to do anything. ( no need to ask me how I know, I just know, cuz I did it once, it only takes one time grin.)

you did not happen to remove and replace the phillips head screw usually on the starboard side of the lu below the gearcase housing assembly?

[bagnallt]

hi guys...
problem solved... LOL.. my 5 year old son .. actually twisted the shifter rod while i had it at the side of the motor taking a bathroom break. He confessed.. So i tool it off and turned the shifter now i know its shifting. F R N. thanks