How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

[njrextreme]

I have a problem w/ the foot going into neutral and linking the shift rod to the spline shaft in the foot. I have to turn the shaft clockwise till it stops and with plyers I turn it a little farther and it will be neutral. Does that shaft have to have pressure on it to stay in neutral? If so, how to I sync it correct to the linkage? Im so close to being finished w/ my motor swap, this is my only hold up.
Nick

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

ttt J[_______/

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

found this to be helpful. So I can turn the shaft cw and it will click and be in N? I just didnt want to spin it to far and break somthing.

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

ttt

 

[nathanhooper]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

I know that when I had mine in neutral it stayed there without a problem. Neutral is the middle position. You can tell what position you are in by which way the prop spins, or doesn't. Wish i could help more, but if you go one way and then turn the crankshaft while holding the prop and it turns the prop, then make a mark, then turn it the other way and turn the crankshaft and the prop should turn the opposite direction. Then make a mark and then just position the "cam" in between those two marks. Hope that helps and doesn't confuse.

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

Thanks. What I need to know is how hard is it to turn the shaft to the N position. What it is doing now is spinning free both cw ccw then stops. If I turn the shaft w/ pliars past that point a little bit and hold it, the prob and shaft are in a neutral. What I need to know is if I keep turing it more, will it click and stay in N, or 2 clicks and stay in N? If I can get the shaft to stay in N, I can hook it back up no prob.

 

[nathanhooper]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

Wish I could help. If I had mine off I could play with it and see. All I know is that it was not hard for it to find neutral, that is, I never felt like I was going to break anything.

 

[79Merc80]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

I was always told to put the controls into forward gear before removing the lower unit as it's not the easiest thing to do to keep the lower unit in the neutral position. So, if you put the lower unit and the controls in forward and then put the lower unit back on, that might work better.

Craig

 

[emckelvy]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

You cannot find the correct Neutral position by turning the shift shaft CW thru the Fwd gear position. What you are finding when you do this is a 'false neutral'.

Inline Fours and Sixes always shift Counter-Clockwise from Fwd to Neutral to Reverse.

So, turn that shift shaft CCW until you feel some resistance.

Then, carefully shift a bit more CCW and it should be in Neutral.

Shifted the next little bit CCW, it'll be in Reverse.

Note: Do Not turn the shift shaft any more CCW than when the L/U is in Reverse. Doing so may damage the shift cam or shifting plunger.

Same thing when you're in Fwd gear and rotating the shift shaft Clockwise, when you do so it's trying to shift from Fwd to Reverse and the shift plunger is riding up the shift cam the hard way.

So, to recap, to shift from Fwd to Neutral go Counter-Clockwise.

One 'notch' CCW from Neutral is Reverse.

One "notch" CW from Neutral is Fwd.

HTH & G'luck...........ed

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

Should I be able to do this with my fingers, or do i need pliars to get it in the N position?

 

[emckelvy]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

If you have Vice Grip fingers, no problem! Otherwise a pair of pliers or Vise Grips will help. If you cushion the jaws with tape, the tool will be less likely to mar the splines of the shift shaft.

HTH..........ed

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

If you have Vice Grip fingers, no problem! Otherwise a pair of pliers or Vise Grips will help. If you cushion the jaws with tape, the tool will be less likely to mar the splines of the shift shaft.

HTH..........ed

Thanks for the help.
Nick

 

[Fed]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

A couple of things I can remember from working on old mercs...

The shift splines are not equally spaced apart, they will only go together one way. You will have to look very carefully to see this.

Removing & replacing the L/U is best done with the shifter and the gearbox in reverse gear so that you can turn the prop clockwise (when viewed from the rear) which keeps the water pump vanes going in the correct direction while the drive shaft rotates to align its splines with the crankshaft as you slide it up.

NEVER force it or use the bolts to pull it up, it should slide in easy.

 

[njrextreme]

Re: How do you get the shift linkage in the correct position???merc/mariner 115 I6

Jsut wanted to post a update and thank the ones who helped me w/ this motor swap. The lower unit is on and working! It starts, idels, shifts, and water pump is good to go. Tilt trim is hooked up and working. I s-canned the oil injector and went pre mix. Now i am making new pads and putting the new carpet in it. I should be out in the water soon. Thanks, Nick

Ill put a vid up of it running and another when I get out in the water soon.