1966 Mercury 950SS _ Reverse Locking Mechanism

[chonka]

Brand new to the forum. Have gone through a lot of old posts trying to find my issue with my reverse locking system, but the problem might be I am just missing the whole thing.
It started out as resealing the lower unit and a water-pump rebuild. Everything seemed to go as planned, but when I went to re-install the lower unit I could not figure out the direction of the reverse locking cam. Then upon further reading, I discover the reverse locking push rod and push rod yoke are missing. I ran this outboard on the stand and everything seemed to work fine. I was operating it from the engine and the control box was not hooked up. I also did not take is much past an idle and it was in the down position (tilt).
I do not fully understand what the reverse locking system does and if it has to be in place for the outboard to operate properly. The repair manuals are very vague if anything at all is mentioned. It seems all the parts that are missing are still available. If pictures are needed give me a bit, the first 10 times trying to upload failed and its late.

Thank you for any help you can give.

-chonka

 

[Faztbullet]

When you engage reverse the rod would cause hooks to grab tilt pin and keep engine from rising up from reverse thrust.

 

[merc850]

Here's the manual method but follow these instructions for setting the shift up
This is how I do it in about 60 sec.: Turn the LU shift shaft by hand counter-clockwise until it
stops, then with Vise Grips tight on the bottom of the shaft turn it a
few more degrees CCW until it clicks into a stop, this
should be neutral - check by turning propshaft --
prop should spin freely.
Put control in N and go ahead and attach LU to driveshaft housing some turning of the flywheel will help the DS splines align.
Do not shift into reverse unless you turn the prop at the same time.

 

[chonka]

Thank you Faztbullet for the information about how it works. So the reverse locking system does need to be in place? Or is there some new device that takes the place of the reverse lock system and works better? It just seems odd to me that all the components are missing. If it matters, it has a trim/ tilt system in place.

Thank you merc850, that is probably the simplest and easiest to follow instructions on reinstalling the L/U and the illustration helped a lot on the placement of the cam in neutral when installing. What manual are you using? I can not find anything about the locking mechanism in two manuals I have. One of the manuals is the Selco, "Mercury Outboards 1965-89 repair manual" and the other is "Mercury Outboards 1966 thru 1974 Service Manual" (C-90-68647). Yours looks like it is a Master Service Manual.

Thank you to both of you,

-Chonka

 

[Faztbullet]

You don't need it if you have a working trim system...

 

[GA_Boater]

Thank you Faztbullet for the information about how it works. So the reverse locking system does need to be in place? Or is there some new device that takes the place of the reverse lock system and works better? It just seems odd to me that all the components are missing. If it matters, it has a trim/ tilt system in place.

Thank you merc850, that is probably the simplest and easiest to follow instructions on reinstalling the L/U and the illustration helped a lot on the placement of the cam in neutral when installing. What manual are you using? I can not find anything about the locking mechanism in two manuals I have. One of the manuals is the Selco, "Mercury Outboards 1965-89 repair manual" and the other is "Mercury Outboards 1966 thru 1974 Service Manual" (C-90-68647). Yours looks like it is a Master Service Manual.

Thank you to both of you,

-Chonka

Welcome aboard, chonka.

With tilt and trim, the reverse lock is disabled because the pressure in the cylinders serves the purpose. So over time a PO may have removed the unneeded cam. The cam, rod and hook and are not needed. The pics below are out of a Merc TnT installation manual and the bottom pic shows the rod and hook being removed during installation of add-on TnT.

 

[merc850]

You're welcome. It's 1965 and prior (C-90-25500) section 3 page 85. The LU install procedure is from my own experience.

 

[chonka]

Thank you all, I will get back on this project tomorrow and hopefully be back in the water in a few weeks.

Again, this has been a big help and I appreciate each one of the responses.

-Chonka

ps. I like the way this site designates the participants experience or longevity level. I am a Cadet/ Recruit here on the site. Not too long ago I was a recruit in the US Navy, now 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] class petty officer.