Stuck Shifter

[snowy23]

8)What's up to all you mariners!! Here's my plight.
I remove the pivot pin in the lower unit of a 1963 40hp bigtwin instead of the drain screw in order to drain the lower unit lube. The motor has been sitting a while. Anyway I read a post indicating the way to fix is to dismantle the lower gearbox and reposition the parts. I'm pretty new to outboards but have a lot of zeal. Can anyone lead me through this procedure? I'm going to need to change the impeller as well. Can these two steps be done in one procedure? Thanks for all the help. This really is a great place to learn all about boats.
Snowy23:/

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Stuck Shifter

Sometimes you can save tearing the gearcase apart by laying it on its side and slowly moving the shift rod, try to watch the pivot hole in the yoke line up, then insert the screw. Using an icepick or a small dental pick can help locate and center the hole.

Good luck.

 

[F_R]

Re: Stuck Shifter

In most cases it will go in without tearing it down. Sometimes people have even resorted to turning the motor upside down so the yoke falls into postiion.

A little private trick: If you can see even half the hole in the yoke, you can get the pin in. Here's how - grind or file the end of the pin to a taper. Stick the point of the taper into the half-hole and rotate while pushing lightly. It will pull the yoke into position and go on in. The taper won't hurt anything.

If it helps, you are only about the millionth person that has ever done that.

 

[snowy23]

Re: Stuck Shifter

I'm wondering now!! The shifter seemed stuck before I remove the pivit pin. It already has a taper on it so it seems that someone did this before. It was in place before I removed it .My question now is why didn't the shifter move before I took out the pin?
:$

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Stuck Shifter

When you want to shift with out the motor running,turn the prop (shaft) by hand while moving the shift lever.This lets the clutch dog tangs enter the gear.

DHP

 

[F_R]

Re: Stuck Shifter

Lots of possibilities. First, the suggestion concerning turning the prop is very valid.

But if you still can't move it, remove the access covers on the side of the midsection and inside you will find a brass shift rod connector. Remove the bottom screw from that, then see if you can move the lower shift rod up and down by hand. If you can, everything from there down is OK. Likewise, try moving the shift lever at the powerhead. The idea is to isolate the problem, up above or down below.

BTW, you have to disconnect that shift rod anyway if you are going to do a water pump job.

 

[snowy23]

Re: Stuck Shifter

Lots of possibilities. First, the suggestion concerning turning the prop is very valid.

But if you still can't move it, remove the access covers on the side of the midsection and inside you will find a brass shift rod connector. Remove the bottom screw from that, then see if you can move the lower shift rod up and down by hand. If you can, everything from there down is OK. Likewise, try moving the shift lever at the powerhead. The idea is to isolate the problem, up above or down below.

BTW, you have to disconnect that shift rod anyway if you are going to do a water pump job.

 

[snowy23]

Re: Stuck Shifter

Thanks for all the input FR and captain.
I did remove the lower unit. The shift lever seems to move ok at the power head. The shift rod going into the gearbox seems to be stuck. It doesn't move at all. I cleaned the casing and started soaking the area around where the rod enters the gearbox with some deep creep. I guess my next step will be to dis-assemble the gearbox and go from there. Fortunately I do live close to an outboard mechanic who is very generous with his time and advice. I'll be contacting him with the best way to go about tinkering with the gears box area. Any ideas from you guys will be welcome as well.
Thanks again,
Keith