PLEASE HELP ME LOCATE SHIFT LINKAGE BOLT ON DIAGRAM '59 Big Twin 35hp shift issues

OK - plenty of guys saying to open up hood, disengage shift cable and manually shift lever (have done so, still likes only reverse - even if I get into fwd by rotating shift lever fwd by hnand, it lasts mere seconds and slips back), but some posters say to PULL up on shifting rod to get into FWD Gear, then tighten shifting rod (or make sure shifting rods are tight), and one who advised he just went through this on same engine make/model/year and I need to follow this advise from him:

I have evinrude big twin; it is the same way, Just had the bottom end redone from a boat mech so i doubt anything inside is bad or he would have replaced it - I even took my shift cable off and put it in gear manually and it still poppin out,so i went all over it and found the linkage bolt was loose! i hope this fixes it for you!

OK, here is an exploded view online catalog (FREE, just click to it and see exploded views of this engine , with next page being part numbers for the exploded view item #'s...) Has dozen or so exploded views.. can anyone help me determne WHAT levers, or bolts to tightn, or adjustmnts to get it shifting right? PLEASE - look at explodfed views and then I can see exactly what you mean and refer back to it!

LINK TO EXPLODED VIEWS:

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...evinrude-johnson/ITEM_2977/ITEM_297700001.htm

elI cant tel you all how appeciatve I am for any/all help!

Thadius Main

Re: PLEASE HELP ME LOCATE SHIFT LINKAGE BOLT ON DIAGRAM '59 Big Twin 35hp shift issue

Hi Thadius. If you look on page 12, part 16, you'll see the lower shift rod. When this rod is pulled up, it puts the gear case into FWD, when the rod is pushed down fully it goes into reverse. Neutral, is of course, at a position in between the two. Also, note parts 8,9, and 10 on page 12 as well. They are the shift rod connector and its bolts. This connector joins the upper shift rod (part 44, page 10) to the lower shift rod. Generally speaking you only ever need to remove the lower shift rod connector bolt to drop the lower unit for routine maintenance. It can be a little trick getting the upper and lower rods to meet up properly in the connector, but patience will be rewarded, and you'll get better and better at it the more you do it. Be sure that the detent in the lower shift rod lines up with the lower shift rod connector bolt hole. Once I've reinstalled the lower unit, I often pull up on the lower shift rod and hold it with a pair of needle nose pliers. I then put the shifting handle into REV, which should lower the upper shift rod and the shift rod connector on to the top of the lower shift rod. It may take some tinkering to get everything to line up, but they will eventually. Once they do, install the lower shift rod connector bolt and that's it. Try shifting the motor into FWD, NEU, REV. Flipping the shift lever into FWD should raise/tug the lower shift rod up, while shifting in to REV should force it down. You check to see that the prop is spinning properly by running it in a test tank, or by removing the spark plugs and shifting into gear while manually turning the flywheel clockwise only. When you shift into FWD while turning the flywheel CW, the prop should also start spinning CW. When you shift into Neutral the prop should not spin at all while you spin the flywheel CW. Finally, when you shift into REV the while still spinning the flywheel CW the prop should spin Counter clockwise. Hope this helps. You've got a great old motor there that's well worth the effort. Here are some hand sites that can walk you through all the basic steps in a tuen up. Good luck. Keep us posted.


http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04/s/columns/max/24/index.cfm
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/columns/max/index1.htm

Re: PLEASE HELP ME LOCATE SHIFT LINKAGE BOLT ON DIAGRAM '59 Big Twin 35hp shift issue

WOW! AWESOMELY WELL WRITTEN, AND DESCRIPTIVE ASSISTANCE!!!!

THANK YOU!!! I will do exactly this, and cannot thank you nearly enough.. this is almost as good as having someone do it for me, as it is literally stepped through from begginning to end..


again, thank you!


Thadius!

Re: PLEASE HELP ME LOCATE SHIFT LINKAGE BOLT ON DIAGRAM '59 Big Twin 35hp shift issue

No problemo. It can be a little tricky to get everything to line up just right the first time, but be patient and you'll get it. Holler if you get stuck.


P.S.
Check youtube. There are lots of helpful vids on routine maintenance for these old gems.