1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

[1976evinrude]

I recently got a 1976 evinrude 85hp and when running it on the muffs a few days ago it ran prefect, shifted perfect, everything. Now today I go to start up the motor on muffs again it will shift into forward but not reverse! When it nuetral it spins freely , forward i cant budge it and reverse it just spins freely. What should I do?

 

[boobie]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

Check the g/c oil for any water, remove the the control cable for the shift on the the mtr and try shifting it manualy. Next check all the upper shift linkage on the mtr.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

When I shift into reverse the prop changes Into reverse it just dosnt have any speed and when you advance the throttle the prop dosnt move any faster.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

Oh and also how can i check the lower unit oil without pouring it all out?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

Loosen the lower fill plug and drain just a little oil, then replace the fill plug. Not much is going to come out because without the upper plug removed it's not vented.

Are you saying you tried shifting with the cable disconnected, as suggested? What this will do is tell you if the problem is in the engine or else in the cable or control box.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

no i shifted with the engine running and nuetral and forward work fine but when in reverse all it does is spin reverse but with no speed like you could porbaly stop it with your hand.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

What boobie was getting at, and he's absolutely correct, is that it's possible the problem is nothing more than the cable being out of adjustment. Disconnect the cable end from the linkage in the engine, start the engine, and shift into reverse by moving the shift linkage by hand. If it goes fully into reverse and is fully engaged like it should be then that eliminates anything in the gearcase as a potential problem.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

I know I might sound stupid but how do you take the teleflex shifter cable off? I dont kno how to disconnect it from the shifter in the engine

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

UPDATE: ok so I found the little hidden bolt connecting the teleflex shift cable to the shifter on the engine and removed it . I could easily put the engine in forward , nuetral, and reverse with no problem by hand. What should I do now?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

That narrows it down to just a few possibilities. There could be something wrong in the control box (doubtful), cable could be worn, or it could just need adjusting.

For starters place your shifter in neutral and place the transmissin in neutral. Jiggle the linkage back and forth to get it in the exact center of neutral. The stud on the linkage should now exactly line up with the hole in the cable end. If not adjust the trunion on the cable until you've got alignment, reassemble, and retest.

If that doesn't get it you're going to have to figure out why there's lost motion between the control box and cable end.

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

It's looks as if the shifter cable isn't pushing the shifter on the motor back far enough to engage reverse

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

ok today i adjusted everything and it all works fine now. I just have one question when it shifts into reverse and forward does the prop have to be securely locked in both directions because when I shift the prop locks but in only one direction so it wont spin one way but will spin the other.
Also is it normal when the engine is in nuetral that the prop is just barely in gear making it spin very slowly?
THANKS!

 

[archcycle]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

when it shifts into reverse and forward does the prop have to be securely locked in both directions because when I shift the prop locks but in only one direction so it wont spin one way but will spin the other.
THANKS!

If it is in F then you should only be able to spin it in the F direction, and it should also turn the flywheel as the prop should now be connected to the drive train. This all applies to R as well, but note that in R the flywheel will still move clockwise.

I'm not clear from your original post on whether this has ever worked for you on the water. Are we troubleshooting a problem that just cropped up or did you buy it this way?

 

[1976evinrude]

Re: 1976 85hp evinrude wont shift into reverse!

It just all of a sudden stopped shifting into reverse then I adjusted the shift cable and it all worked again