lower unit will not stay in forward

RUME · Apr 29, 2012

Hello, first time post. Have a 1978 120/140 mercruiser out drive. Dropped it to replace water pump impeller. Have replaced impeller on other mercs before; the lower unit will not stay in forward when I try to go back up with it. you turn the shift shaft ccw but just touching the prop and it falls out. Any suggestions appricitated.

tylermcclintock · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

sound like when you pulled off the lower unit there is a washer you forgot to put back in. Without this washer the shift shaft foot wont set high enough to hook up with the coupler. Happens to people more than you would think

greg82255 · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

Have you already re-installed the drive and it won't stay in gear, or are you trying to keep it in forward while you install it? If it's the first, you may have missed that washer. If it's the second, you can put it in forward and put a bungee cord on the prop. Shift into forward, turn the prop as if it's going in reverse - it should lock, then bungee the prop to hold it there.

RUME · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

greg82255 said:
Have you already re-installed the drive and it won't stay in gear, or are you trying to keep it in forward while you install it? If it's the first, you may have missed that washer. If it's the second, you can put it in forward and put a bungee cord on the prop. Shift into forward, turn the prop as if it's going in reverse - it should lock, then bungee the prop to hold it there.

I've pulled it up about 20 times , washer is there. You touch the prop and it falls out of forward. the only way to put more pressure on the shiff shaft is with a pipe wrench. I stays in reverse with no problem. If my hair wasn't already white it would be soon, lol. If I'm missing something I don't know what it is. I've done this too many times.

ktbarrentine · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

RUME said:
You touch the prop and it falls out of forward.

Hmmmm..Don't touch the prop? (JK!!)... Seriously, though, mine did the same thing, but the bungee cord method of locking it CCW worked like a charm.

achris · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

RUME said:
I've pulled it up about 20 times , washer is there. You touch the prop and it falls out of forward. the only way to put more pressure on the shiff shaft is with a pipe wrench. I stays in reverse with no problem. If my hair wasn't already white it would be soon, lol. If I'm missing something I don't know what it is. I've done this too many times.

Unlike outboards, there is no detent position on a sterndrive gear housing for gear positions.. You hold the drive in forward gear by turning the shift shaft CLOCKWISE and the prop COUNTER CLOCKWISE until the prop stops turning easily. Then while holding a CCW force on the prop, install it.

RUME · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

achris said:
Unlike outboards, there is no detent position on a sterndrive gear housing for gear positions.. You hold the drive in forward gear by turning the shift shaft CLOCKWISE and the prop COUNTER CLOCKWISE until the prop stops turning easily. Then while holding a CCW force on the prop, install it.

The manuel calls for model 1 drives to have the shift shaft turned counterclockwise and turn prop counterclockwise to aline splines. tried clockwise; just locked up drive when pulled up; won't shift. seems like shift shaft dosen't turn far enough.

RUME · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

ktbarrentine said:
Hmmmm..Don't touch the prop? (JK!!)... Seriously, though, mine did the same thing, but the bungee cord method of locking it CCW worked like a charm.

another set of hands didn't work either, a real bummer. bout ready to use the bigger hammer method

achris · Apr 29, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

RUME said:
The manual calls for model 1 drives to have the shift shaft turned counterclockwise and turn prop counterclockwise to align splines.

Don't know where you're reading that, because my GENUINE manual definitely shows CLOCKWISE.. (and I've done it hundreds of times)

RUME said:
tried clockwise; just locked up drive when pulled up; won't shift.

Which is exactly what it's supposed to do!

RUME said:
seems like shift shaft doesn't turn far enough.

The amount of movement on the shift shaft is not great, maybe 30? each way....

RUME · Apr 30, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

Thanks. Tried clockwise; worked fine. Have a Clymer manual, they misprinted that. Unit i on shifting fine. Thanks again!!!

ktbarrentine · Apr 30, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

RUME said:
Thanks. Tried clockwise; worked fine. Have a Clymer manual, they misprinted that. Unit i on shifting fine. Thanks again!!!

Seems like there are alot of "misprints" in the Clymer and the SELOC manuals. IMHO, all they are good for is holding up the couch when the couch-legs break off.... Just sayin'. Recommend downloading the "good" stuff here.

Bondo · Apr 30, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

ktbarrentine said:
Seems like there are alot of "misprints" in the Clymer and the SELOC manuals. IMHO, all they are good for is holding up the couch when the couch-legs break off.... Just sayin'. Recommend downloading the "good" stuff here.

Ayuh,.... Pretty good knee pads on a gravel driveway,....

achris · Apr 30, 2012

Re: lower unit will not stay in forward

RUME said:
... Have a Clymer manual, ...

:facepalm:

Download and SAVE this -> https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B1...ODAxOS00YWZjLWFmZDgtZjMxNjQxOTkzMzUz&hl=en_GB

lower unit will not stay in forward

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