1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

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redbucket

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Hi Guys

FWD will not engage on the outboard.
Its not the cable the lever shifts fully forward and back and you can see parts mving in the outboard with the lid off.
It will shift between reverse and neutral fine no problems

While playing with it yesterday at home with the earmuffs on. I think I may have gotten it too engage if I move it from reverse to neutral to fwd, if I continue to do this gently it seems to engage 1 out of 5 times.

Would this be the cluch dog? How easy would it be to check this for an absolute amateur...
Can I easily drop the leg and have a look or will I need specialist tools?

Thanks
 
classiccat

classiccat

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

Did the engine ever go into FW for you? worn clutch dogs normally don't happen overnight; as they wear, the frequency that they pop out of gear @ WOT increases over time.

The simplest thing to check is whether or not the shift cable is hooked-up correctly; centered on the neutral slack/play. Have you tried shifting into FW directly on the motor (w/ the cable disconnected)?

If that all checks out, it could be something is wrong with the linkage (i.e. like a loose shift connector...is it sometimes difficult to get from reverse to neutral?). If I'm not mistaken, this motor requires the rod to be pushed-down for reverse but pull-up for forward.
 
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redbucket

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

It ran fine. But the throttle wire needs replacing and gets jammed. Dropped it out of gear at too high a rev. There was a bang and the motor jumped. Then couldn't engage Fwd after that.. Very silly.
 
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redbucket

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

I have tested changing gears on the outboard without using the cable. Still problems engaging Fwd. Can see the part that shifts the rod down the leg and that seems to be shifting as it should.
 
lindy46

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

Remove the little cover on the side of the leg and make sure both upper and lower shift rods are connected to the coupler. There are two bolts in the coupler which hold the shift rods in place. It's possible that one of the bolts has backed out and the shift rod is loose. Forward gear requires upward movement of the shift rod/coupler assembly, so if one of the rods is loose in the coupler, gravity is working against you. In this case, reverse works ok, as the shift rods move downward to engage reverse, and gravity is working with you.
 
classiccat

classiccat

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

Ouch, bangs are rarely good. have you checked your LU oil since then? If not, you may want to check it for metal shards suspended in the oil (and on the magnet if you have one)?

definitely check that linkage coupling though...that's an easy problem to fix...maybe that "bang" jarred it loose (the power of positive thinking :lol: )
 
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redbucket

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

Thanks for the replies lindy and bluefin, I'll try to have a look and fingers crossed its something that simple.
 
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redbucket

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

Unfortunately not the coupling, that seems to be fine.
Will try to drop the leg over the next week or 2 and see what I can find.
Where should I start and is there anything I need to be careful on when dropping the leg?
 
lindy46

lindy46

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Re: 1976 25 HP Evinrude, cannot engage fwd

Is the Phillips head "pivot pin" in place in the lower unit? Sometimes that pin gets pulled by mistake when draining the lower unit. If it doesn't get put back in properly thru the hole in the yoke on the end of the shift rod, the motor won't shift properly.
 
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