NO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE

JOHANNEDDY

Recruit
Joined
Jul 6, 2005
Messages
3
I HAVE A 1971 80HP MERCURY THAT WILL NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL, OR REVERSE.<br /><br />THE SHIFT MECHANISM WORKS FINE.<br /><br />THE ENGINE STARTS, BUT THE PROP TURNS FORWARD EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT IS IN NEUTRAL.<br /><br />WHEN I PLACE THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE THROTTLES UP IN THE FORWARD POSITION.<br /><br />WHAT COULD THIS BE CAUSED BY?
 

Clams Canino

Commander
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
2,179
Re: NO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE

A misinstalled lower unit (hopefully). Remove it and place the shift shaft in neutral and the shifter in neutral and re-install it.<br /><br />Change the waterpump impeller while you're in there.<br /><br />-W
 

mattoc

Cadet
Joined
Apr 10, 2004
Messages
18
Re: NO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE

In the gearbox (leg) you have an arm which moves when you change gear, in neutral the arm will hold a double-sided cog (connected to prop) between two other cogs (these two other cogs are constantly spinning in opposite directions), in forward the arm will lower the double sided cog into the forward cog, in reverse the arm pushes the dbl sided cog into the oppersite cog. This arm makes a sliding action every time you change gear and wears out this one is difficult u must disassemble the entire gearbox to get to the arm. <br /><br />It could also be a worn out shifting rod this rod connects together where the gearbox meets the teeth a very thin and can only withstand so much.<br /><br />PS have you checked to see if the remote gear cable hasn’t slipped off the pin (located inside the engine) its not hard to see it gos parallel under the throttle cable.
 
Top