Re: 1989 Force Grinding going into gear
First, remove the cable inside the engine. Now try to move the shift linkage by hand. If it is so tight you can hardly move it, the lower shift rod seal has swelled and tightened. It needs to be replaced.
If the likage moves OK, then you need to re-adjust the shift linkage. It is biased a little toward reverse so when you try to put it into forward, the engine starts accelerating before the drive dogs are fully engaged. They bounce off each other until enough travel has been acheived to let them lock-up.
It is not too difficult: The shift linkage is on the side of the misleg behind the lower shroud. There is a long hex coupler threaded opposite for the upper and lower section of shift rod. Since forward is down, you need to turn the coupler in the direction that lengthens the rod. EASY DOES IT! 1/2 turn at a time. If you go too far, it may not go into neutral or it may do the same thing in reverse or not go into reverse at all.
