65 MERCURY 35 HP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND NEUTRAL

[RUSTY13]

I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO START. THE PREVIOUS OWNER MESSED WITH THE SHIFT LINKAGE(I THINK THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL THE RODS IN THE MOTOR THAT MOVE THE SHIFT ROD IN AND OUT OF GEAR)DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT LENGTH THEY SHOULD BE? I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY INFO IN MY REPAIR MANUAL. SECONDLY I AM HAVING TROUBLE DETERMINING HOW TO GET THE MOTOR INTO NEUTRAL.WITH MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE,I MANUALLY PUT THE SHIFT ROD INTO THE MIDDLE "V" (THERE ARE 3 V"S I ASSUME MIDDLE V IS NEUTRAL)PROPELLER STILL TURNS.I TRIED THE OTHER 2 V'S AND THE PROPELLER TURNS IN THE SAME DIRECTION? I BELIEVE IF I COULD FIND NEUTRAL POSITION ON MOTOR, LINKAGE PROBLEM MIGHT NOT BE AS SEVERE. ANY THOUGHTS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR NEWBIE IGNORANCE. HAVE A NICE DAY

 

[dmessy]

Re: 65 MERCURY 35 HP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND NEUTRAL

I had an old Merc. that had the habit of popping into foward from nuetral due to wear and tear on those 3 "Vs" you were talking about.Try disconecting the shift linkage rods, and manuelly place the shift shaft in forward as far as it will go. Make note of the position, Then do the same in reverse. True mechanical nuetral is mid way between these points. You'll probably find that the "Vs" are wore out. Replace the part and reconnect the shift linkage rods,adjusting them so they seat true. Hope this helps...

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 65 MERCURY 35 HP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND NEUTRAL

Hi Rusty,<br /> My bet is that the previous owner had the lower unit off the motor and messed up the linkage between the lower unit and mid-section. Not an uncommon problem. You'll have to pull the lower unit off the motor, find the gear placements on the unit and reassemble it with everything properly aligned. I usually find forward on the unit, and then set the motor's controls in forward and assemble from there. In forward gear the prop will "ratchet" when spun in the forward direction and will turn the driveshaft when turned backwards. In reverse it will positively engage the driveshaft in both directions.<br />- Scott

 

[Rex]

Re: 65 MERCURY 35 HP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND NEUTRAL

I'V GOT SOME OLD MECR. PUT IT IN "V"<br />MAKE SURE THE LOWER UNIT IS THERE.<br />THEN PUT IT BACK ON. <br />YOU WILL BE OK.<br />GOOD LUCK<br /> REX

 

[RUSTY13]

Re: 65 MERCURY 35 HP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND NEUTRAL

THANKS FOR THE TIPS GUYS.UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT GET HOME IN TIME TO TINKER TODAY.I WILL DEFINATELY GET HOME IN TIME TO HAVE A LOOK TOMORROW.WILL LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME. HAVE A NICE DAY.