45 HP wont go in neutral?

[wpvaneyssen]

At first,I couldnt get the motor to go in reverse...after adjusting coupler manage to get forward/reverse but now motor wont go in neutral?please help...

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 45 HP wont go in neutral?

If you can get both forward and reverse gears with the control handle, it is not possible to not get reverse. The dog clutch slides forward and backward with neutral being in the middle. SO; in order to get either gear if adjusted correctly, you need to go past neutral. Thus: if you are able to engage BOTH gears, you are sliding past neutral. It is time to remove the control box and see if the levers are attached to the correct cables and are in the proper position.

Throttle lever is the pointed forward one and should be facing forward in neutral. Shift lever is the square rearward one with two holes, and should be facing straight down in neutral.

 

[wpvaneyssen]

Re: 45 HP wont go in neutral?

Frank,I`m only getting forward/reverse(prop only rotating in one direction)and no neutral on motor but shift lever does move accordingly.Only adjustment that I have made is on the coupler nut!what next...need to know how/where to start the adjustment of the coupler nut in relation to the control lever!

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 45 HP wont go in neutral?

If you are only getting rotation in one direction, then adjustment is incorrect.

First release the locknut on the coupler. Next unscrew the coupler until BOTH threads are out. This will need you to move the shift lever toward reverse as you unscrew it. You may even need to loosen the mounting bolts for the lower unit, allowing it to drop a bit (but you should not need to remove it). The purpose of this is to insure that both the upper rod and the lower rod are equally threaded into the coupler. Now, begin to thread both rods at the same time into the coupler.

Put the control in neutral. While you are screwing the coupler onto the shift rods, the engine will be locked in forward because FORWARD IS DOWN and the rods will be long, in effect pushing down. As you screw the coupler onto the rods, you will be shortening the rods and eventually the length will be correct and the gear pak will be in neutral. Tighten the locknut and check control movement for forward and reverse engagement. Since there is a little bit of clearance in neutral, some fine adjustment may be needed for each gear to engage solidly.

 

[wpvaneyssen]

Re: 45 HP wont go in neutral?

Frank,I undid nut but also had to drop lower section!Winded nut back on both threaded rods simultaneously with control lever in neutral.
Tightened up nut and adjusted accordingly and checked control lever which engages but prop still rotating(clockwise) in all positions!What next?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 45 HP wont go in neutral?

Now, unfortunately, I think you need to disassemble the lower unit and see if the prop shaft is binding in the forward gear bushing.

If you can imagine this, the prop shaft is held into the forward gear by a bronze bushing and at the rear by a ball bearing in the rear gland (part held on by two allen nead screws). both gears are constantly in mesh with the pinion and both turn constantly. Both gears ride freely on the prop shaft and the dog clutch, which is splined to the shaft, selects which rotating gear will be meshed to the shaft, thus deciding direction of turning. IF the prop shaft is corroded or otherwise jammed in the bushing in forward gear, then it will effectively be locked in forward in neutral and forward. So it is the only other thing I can think of to check.

You need to drop the lower unit and unscrew the nut on top in the pointed forward end. When you remove the rear gland, you need to remove the nut just inside it. Now, you can drop the gearcase torpedo. If the long stud in the front is corroded, this will be difficult. After dropping the torpedo, the reverse gear and shaft should slide right out. If you need to pull hard on the shaft or if it will not come, or if the forward gear comes with it, then it is jammed into the forward gear bushing.

 

[wpvaneyssen]

Re: 45 HP wont go in neutral?

Thanks Frank!Checked out lower section...found rod connected to lower end loose-insert split pin to hold in place...rewound up nut and okay with test...now to take it out to sea...