[Tin-tanic]

Motor works fine, but when I put the boat in the water this season, it started in forward and I will not come out of gear. I can start it in gear. If I put it in neutural or reverse it will still start and still be in forward. I discounted the cables and still the same. I changed the lower unit oil but was mostly water so I think it was damaged over the winter. I found another 500 (50hp) same year and was going to change the lower units. The motor I just bought is fine but needs a reed block, so my question is, what is easier to fix, a reed block or changing the lower unit? Does anybody have a manual that would help?

Dying to go fishing,

Al

[Texasmark]

The Merc shifter is a twisting shaft cam driven type thing and may have gotten corroded up and froze. I don't know when Merc went to SS drive shafts (sometime in the late '60's or early '70's I think) and don't know if the shift shaft was included. The shifter cam is SS.

Reeds are probably easier although dropping a lower unit isn't that big of a deal if it will separate....in particular, the splines of the driveshaft and shift separating from the power head side mates. Just be sure and get all the screws/nuts out including one under the trim tab that some engines have. The nuts on the side have to be undone a little, crack it apart a little, undo a little, crack a little more sort of thing.

Mark

[emckelvy]

The reed blocks are around the crankshaft and requires powerhead removal/disassembly to replace.

Far easier to swap lower units!

Probably the best thing to do is to take the troublesome lower unit off and check it out; rotate the shift shaft CCW while turning the driveshaft to see if it'll shift to Neutral or Reverse. If it's shot, install the other lower unit with a new impeller.

Be sure you get the shift shaft in the proper position when you reinstall the lower unit. Lots of posts on that topic lately so check them out!

HTH.........ed