Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

i noticed a random thump every so often the last time I had my boat out. I thought it might be missing, but I ran it in the barrel today and it appeared to be gear related. After shifting it through forward neutral and reverse a few times, foward and neutral became both forward, and reverse became neutral. I dropped the lower unit and realligned the gears, but after about 10 cycles through the gears it went right back the wait was.

Is my season over? Is the lower unit shot? Thanks for al the help!!!

Re: Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

It might just be in the shifter arm linkage itself and may have nothing to do with the LU check the upper shift shaft rod splines. They may be stripped out.

Re: Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

Thanks for the advise. I will check it out when I get homt this evening. What would be thefix for smthing like that?

Re: Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

A new shift rod if it,s stripped out. or replacements of the effected componants in the cowel

Re: Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

I believe this link has the right motor parts diagram. This should help you understand how it fits and be able to use the right parts name. It makes it easier to ask question and also to refer to the diagram. I hope I guessed the right motor serial number range.

9.8 Mercury Outboard 5206550 AND UP BOTTOM COWL AND SHIFT LINKAGE Diagram and Parts

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/M...D UP/BOTTOM COWL AND SHIFT LINKAGE/parts.html


Here is a link for the whole motor.

9.8 5206550 AND UP Mercury Outboard Parts

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Merc2/Mercury/9.8/5206550 AND UP/parts.html

Hope this helps!!

Re: Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

Just as an update. I was inspectingthe linkages up top and notices that the sector gear is missing a tooth. This might be the issue. I notice that if I shift past reverse the motor goes into reverse, reverse is neutral, and neutral is forward. So all the gears work, but the shifting is off. I am going to get the carb off this weekend to take a better look, and then try to figure out how to get the gear off.

I also am having trouble geting the top part that the pull starter resides off. As mentioned I broke the cord. One of the screws is almost completely striped and it seems to be rusted up pretty good. Not sure what I am going to do there. Any advise?

If I can get this thing running, I am selling it. This is too much work for a novice mechanic. I need something that is going to need annual work not monthly work!!!

Thanks for the diagram, i couldnt find them in the manual. That is how I came up with the part name!

Re: Shifting issue on a 1984 Merc 9.8

That's a damn fine running motor. why would you sell it once you got it fixed?
At some point we were all novices.