LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

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coachruss

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I have 1997 40hp Force, mine wont go in reverse, should I get another lower unit? Or get mine fixed?
 
eurolarva

eurolarva

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

Can you provide more information as to how and when it will no longer go into reverse? Chances are it is a simple adjustment or the pivot pin inside the lower unit has broken or come off. If you can prvide more information like "I ran the thing into a 10 ton bolder and the prop is now facing the front of the motor"or "the shifting was sporatic and all the sudden could not get it into reverse, or "replaced impeller and now it will not go into reverse" would help.
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

Eurolarva, i hit a dirt mound, and instead of jumping out and pushing i was shifting back and forward to get it to move. Then it wouldnt go in reverse.
 
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Docdoc

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

First see if you can shift it into reverse by hand with the motor off. Then I think I would drain the lube from the lower unit and see if there are any chunks of metal or shavings. A new reverse gear and clutch dog may be in order. You may have damaged the mating surface of one or both of these by trying to "rock the boat". If you have a repair manual, you can try disassembling the unit and examining the reverse gear and clutch dog. Replacing them will not be cheap. What do you think Eurolarva?
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

cheaper than a used lower unit? I can shift in reverse with the motor is on and off, but when it is on it goes forward
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

My repair manual sucks I guess Ibought the wrong kind. Should I try doing it myself?
 
eurolarva

eurolarva

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

My money is you busted the pivot pin.See Item 37 In the gear housing driveshaft section of this LINK Force is a bit different then a chrysler but here is what I think happened. There is a small pin that is connected to the propeller shaft. This moves a sliding clutch either forward or backwards to engage the gears (This is what changes the direction of the prop spin). The face of this clutch and gears have what is called dogs that latch and allow them to engage. My guess is you busted this pivot pin so the clutch will not move now and is probably locked in what ever gear it was in before it broke. The part is probably under 15 bucks and a seal kit is around 30 dollars. I would go to the library and find a clymer or syloc manual and do the work yourself. I knew nothing about motors 4 years ago and have done it now 3 times. Each time I do it I do it faster and feel more confident what I am doing is right<br /><br />If clutch or reverse gear were damaged my guess is you would be able to engage at low idle but they would jump out of gear when you attempted any kind of speed.<br /><br />Good luck
 
roscoe

roscoe

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

I agree with eurolarva, likely a pivot pin.<br /><br />#37 here<br /><br />
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<br /><br /><br />Get the Clymer repair manual for your motor, or get a factory manual for it, they are often available on ebay.<br /><br />Remove lower unit, replace bent or broken parts, replace the seals and waterpump as long as you have it all apart.<br /><br />A used lower unit will cost you $350-$500. A rebuilt one is $1100.
 
eurolarva

eurolarva

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

When you have it apart it will be pretty obvious especially if you have the manual. The service manual has a real good parts breakdown. When you have it apart you will be able to see how the pivot system works and you will see either the holder for the pin is bent or the pin is broke.
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

I have the Clymer manual, does it describe it pretty good in that?
 
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Docdoc

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

Both Clymer and Seloc manuals should hve exploded views of the unit and detailed instructions.
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

DO i need to take the driveshaft off and the shift shaft or just the shift shaft? Should I follow the directions starting from taking off the propeller, etc? Taking down the entire lower unit? Mercuty sells a service manual supposedly better than CLymer or Seloc.
 
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imported_LakeRunner

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

The prop is the best place to start, just make sure you disconnect the battery first. This may be a good time to do some lower end PM. Seals, impeller, a little grease. So here's the sequence.<br /><br />1. Disconnect battery<br />2. Remove prop<br />3. Mark shift shaft positions<br />4. Disconnect shift shaft<br />5. Unbolt lower unit from leg<br />6. Have at it<br />7. Once you fixed it - reverse order for assembly<br /><br />Clymers and seloc are good but the Service manual will never steer you wrong!
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

Originally posted by Lake Runner:<br /> The prop is the best place to start, just make sure you disconnect the battery first. This may be a good time to do some lower end PM. Seals, impeller, a little grease. So here's the sequence.<br /><br />1. Disconnect battery<br />2. Remove prop<br />3. Mark shift shaft positions<br />4. Disconnect shift shaft<br />5. Unbolt lower unit from leg<br />6. Have at it<br />7. Once you fixed it - reverse order for assembly<br /><br />Clymers and seloc are good but the Service manual will never steer you wrong!
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I totally screwed up when I took the lower unit off about 2 months ago. Some how I lost the coupler and jamb nut on my shift shaft, so now I dont know where my marks were or anything? I ordered a new coupler and jamb nut from mercury, and I also ordered a manual ($71.45 by the way), have a screwed my shift shaft up? I hope that service manual tells me how to get it back in place. I ordered a new seal kit, impeller kid, washers all that stuff so i can fix it up while i have it broken down. So hopefully this can steer me to putting this thing back together.
 
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imported_LakeRunner

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

It will take little adjusting and trial and error and you should be able to get the shift correctly adjusted. Takes a little patience and you want to feel the clicks between neutral, reverse and forward. You will be surpised and amazed how easy it was when you get it all back together. Like fixing a chain on a bicycle.
 
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coachruss

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Re: LOOKING FOR A LOWER UNIT!

Originally posted by Lake Runner:<br /> The prop is the best place to start, just make sure you disconnect the battery first. This may be a good time to do some lower end PM. Seals, impeller, a little grease. So here's the sequence.<br /><br />1. Disconnect battery<br />2. Remove prop<br />3. Mark shift shaft positions<br />4. Disconnect shift shaft<br />5. Unbolt lower unit from leg<br />6. Have at it<br />7. Once you fixed it - reverse order for assembly<br /><br />Clymers and seloc are good but the Service manual will never steer you wrong!
Click to expand...
I just got all my parts in and the service manual. What I am wondering do I have to take all the gears out to get the shift shaft out. Do I need the puller or any other tools? Or do you guys know a way to do it without buying the puller?
 
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