[DougRaider]

As I am underway, the motor shifts out of gear unless I hold the shifting lever forward. Is this caused by a faulty thrust bearing?

[papasage]

doug you may need to ajust your cable . or your shift rod loos or shift dog in foot worn . .ifit is the shift dog worn it could damage the gears which is expensive to replace. i have had a machine shop to dress the gears where the shiftdog inguage with good sucess. papasage>>>

[Kyle Anders]

I have a '72 Evinrude 18 HP. It keeps "jumping" out of gear as I take off and keeps jumping out as I go across the lake. I can hold it in to a point and then it jumps out. It jumps seems to jump out and immediately back in gear. But it gradually gets worse, until you can't go much past an idle.
I just replaced the drive shaft. Everything else seems to be ok.

Any Ideas.

[crxess]

It is rude to hijack someone elses thread.

I have to say in both cases the clutch dog is not enguaging properly. Do not continue use until the problem is corrected. it will only get worse.

If the clutch dog can be dressed to square the edges back, reinstall in the opposite direction. This will place the worn end working reverse. You rarely bully a motor in reverse and it should last.