1980 70hp Evinrude clatters and hard to get into Forward gear

[redfishsc]

When I push the throttle lever forward to put this boat in Forward, you hear the lower unit gearing clatter a lot and I have to sometimes get the RPM up to 1500-2000 before it will grab and stay in gear. Sometimes she bucks and kicks before getting firmly into gear.

It will occasionally hop into neutral after going into gear but never at high rpm. Once it's in gear and I get upwards of 2500+, it stays nicely in gear.

This is the sort of control box that does not have gear selection, it just swaps gear depending on which direction you push the throttle.

Any tips on where to start?

Gear oil is fresh now (no change in behavior) . Was about half empty when I bought it in December, no apparent water. No idea where the old gear oil went, no apparent leaks.

 

[Crosbyman]

is this a new problem recently ..sounds like some linkage is not adjusted properly or gears destroyed partially by improper shifting procedure by previous owner

any metal chips on the oil plug magnet ??

 

[racerone]

Have a shop start by setting the shift rod height.-----If you keep running like this you will destroy the lower unit gears/ clutch dogs.

 

[redfishsc]

is this a new problem recently ..sounds like some linkage is not adjusted properly or gears destroyed partially by improper shifting procedure by previous owner

any metal chips on the oil plug magnet ??

No, thankfully. The more I think about it, the more I am thinking you're right about the linkage being out of adjustment.

If I understand how it works, pushing the throttle further probably is probably moving the shift rod a little more and that's why it goes in gear at higher rpm.

 

[redfishsc]

Have a shop start by setting the shift rod height.-----If you keep running like this you will destroy the lower unit gears/ clutch dogs.

Will do. I'm going to look into a DIY on this. I've rebuilt GM 10-bolt rear ends and done cylinder head swaps (both successfully and still driving them 4 years later) so hopefully with a little YouTube University this can be doable.

 

[redfishsc]

Ok gents she's fixed. It was just a poorly adjusted linkage up next to the carbs. I removed the pin securing he plastic threaded fork, adjusted it about 1-1/2 turns out, and then took her to a nearby lake for some testing. World of difference, it goes into forward/reverse smoothly.

It's done this a little ever since I bought this boat in December. Some days it's worse than others but never as silky and quick as it is after adjusting.

 

[oldboat1]

This is the sort of control box that does not have gear selection, it just swaps gear depending on which direction you push the throttle.

Your motor has a single forward and reverse gear. The single lever first shifts into gear, then advances throttle further. Shift crisply within an idle range.