1977 evinrude 140 hp shifting problems

I have a 1977 evinrude 140 hp a few years ago I had the water pump replaced by a boat guy here in town since then when I try to operate the boat it doesn't shift from nuetral to forward or reverse very smooth when I engage the shifter control forward I am almost at wide open when it engages but its not going very fast on the water when I pull the shifter back to where it should be the moter shifts in and out of gears I am contemplating replacing the shifter control unit but I am curious is it possible the guy that replaced the water pump didn't get something set right when he put it back together or maybe even during the tune up he did on the motor the he might have changed a setting or anything. Any help would be appreciated I have an evinrude manual for this motor and plan on doing the work myself if its not too complecated I am mechanicaly inclined but I am better with cars then boat motors

Re: 1977 evinrude 140 hp shifting problems

your shift rod height is probably wrong.

The correct shift height for your motor is (LU in neutral) 21-13/32”. Long shaft model

Assuming that it is a shift rod height problem...You'll have to drop the LU and manually put it in neutral then measure from the mating surface to the middle of the shift rod hole. If it's not the above measurement, screw the rod in/out to get the correct measurement.

Re: 1977 evinrude 140 hp shifting problems

+1 shift rod height. Just one turn putting it on or taking it off can be enough to mess up your shifting. The lever doesn't move the rod very far so there's not much room for error. Thus the measurement of the correct height in 32nds of an inch +/- tiny margin of error.

Re: 1977 evinrude 140 hp shifting problems

There was no shift rod adjustment on that mtr. It was hydro-mechanical. You screwed in the connector link on top of the shift rod until it seated and then backed off until the offset faced forward.