'64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

Hey everybody,<br /><br />Put the boat in the water and made it to my fishing spot. When I started the engine to switch spots, it wouldn't go into either gear. I put it back in nuetral and quickly shifted back to FWD. It went in fine and I figured it was a fluke. The next time I started up to move, the same thing happened. However, now I cant get it to go into gear(either one). Can somebody please give me a few starting points here. I really don't want to go in blindly, I'd like to have at least 1 or 2 things I am looking for. Also, if this needs parts can I even find them and is it worth fixing.<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts!

Re: '64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

You don't say if this is the first time you've used the engine and whether you're experienced with it or not.<br /><br />However, and not intending to insult your intelligence, when he throttle is advanced somewhat, there is a lockout incorporated in the engine which prevents the shifting procedure.<br /><br />This is to prevent shift from one gear to another at a high rpm etc etc.<br /><br />You did say that once you put the engine in neutral, all was well again. I assume you mean by neutral, that you returned the throttle control to its dead idle position?

Re: '64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

Joe,<br /><br />I have had the engine for about 6 months and have never had this problem before yesterday. I am aware that it cannot be shifted at high rpms, although when it wouldn't shift after a few tries I attempted at different throttle positions. To clarify, the lever will move into position....the gears just don't engage. The engine runs great and I don't hear any noises from the lower unit that are out of the ordinary. The lever moves freely from FWD to Nuetral to Reverse with the normal (from my experience with the engine) effort.<br /><br />The first time I experienced this, shifting to nuetral and back to FWD got the gears to engage. Now, however, nothing I try can get the gears to engage.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments!

Re: '64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

if u are sure its not in the linkage then it sounds like u need to drop the lower unit ( as your would do for replacing the water pump) and see what might be going on. when u do this pay close attenchen to the drive shaft and the shift clamp. i have not seen eather 1 of these break before but i guess anything is possable with a 30 year old motor.. .also watch the water tube and make sure its NOT comming out with the lower unit.there is not alot of room to losen and remove the bolt from shifter clamp when u drop the lower unit. u will have about 1/2 inch of room before the lower unit can come off this needs to be disconnected.if u have to go into the lower unit its pretty easy and straight forward. parts can be alittle hard to find but not impossable ( i have a nice collection for my many 9.5s ) also whole lower units can be bought on ebay for around 50$ or so but u are chancing that also with a used lower unit anything can be wrong with it. they used that style lower unit for many years and on diffrent HP engine. u asked if the motor is worth fixing. i am very fond of the 9.5 unlike others on the board but 1ns u learn them and the tricks they are no harder to work on then any other outboard.

Re: '64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

Sounds like either the brass shift connector has a loose bolt, allowing the shift rod to move out of place, or you have a broken shear pin which is moving around at times of which it would enable the prop to turn, and at other times not.<br /><br />To check the brass shift connector, obviously you would need to drop the lower unit.

Re: '64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

Wayne and Joe,<br /><br />Thanks for all the help. I went out yesterday and the first thing I checked was the shear pin and.......Bingo. I was a little surprised because, like I mentioned, it worked sometimes and not others. It was dark Saturday night so I just parked it and expected the worst. Boy was I relieved. Thanks again for all the help!!!!!<br /><br />Ken

Re: '64 Evinrude 9.5 - Won't go into gear

didnt even think of that. sometimes the easyest things can be over looked