Re: 87 Evinrude 60hp VRO control box grinds when I put into reverse
several possilbe problems, shift rod height go change in last impeller replacement, bad clutch dog, mis-adjusted shift cable, idle speed too high. the shift from neutral to fwd or rev, should be a quick deliberate movement, not a slow movement of the handle. the slow movement allows the clutch dog and gear not to mesh, keep up the slow shifting, and grinding will only get worse. then the motor will not stay in that gear underload.
change you lower gear oil, look for chunks of metal, a few small slivers is normal,