Forward and reverse

[Dale18]

Hey Guys, I need your help, I replaced the water pump on my 1973 Mercury 115 HP inline 6. I got in the water the other day and went to put in forward gear and did not have to move lever far forward and was in gear. When I tried the reverse it would never got into reverse because if I went to far down the motor reved up. If I turn the boat off and moved all the way down it would go into reverse. What did I do wrong when I put the foot back on and how do I correct it? What is the best way to get all lined backed up? Thanks Dale

 

[GA_Boater]

Put the remote in neutral, drop the lower unit and with a pair of pliers on the shift shaft, put the lower in neutral. Put it all back together and check forward and reverse.

 

[Dale18]

Hey GA boater,

That is how I did it when I put foot back up, Could it still be off a little? Because I never had this problem before.

 

[racerone]

NO----What happened is it jumped into FORWARD during assembly and you did not notice.-----Try again or perhaps have both in forward and try it.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hey GA boater,

That is how I did it when I put foot back up, Could it still be off a little? Because I never had this problem before.

Yes, it's off. Try what racer suggested, put it in forward. I always use neutral, but some lower units will slip out of neutral or forward when bumped by the upper shift shaft.

 

[Dale18]

Which was is forward gear? clock wise or counter clock with the shaft on the foot?

 

[Chris1956]

Forward is CW from neutral. Reverse is CCW from neutral. So if the motor is in forward, turn the shift lever CCW until it clicks and stays in neutral. Make sure not to strip the splines.

I recommend you reassemble with both motor and control in neutral. You may need to wiggle the shifter to get the shafts to mate.

 

[GA_Boater]

The neutral way works best for me. If it doesn't work, the try in forward. This is the neutral method - https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...cury-outboards

 

[Dale18]

Thanks for all the good info guys. This forums has a lot of knowledge on it. I will try it in a few days when It is dry outside.

 

[Dale18]

OK guys, I still can't get it to work doing it in neural. It still clicks into gear when I go forward on the handle. It seems faster then it did before. It still will not go into reverse, it just clicks, unless I turn the motor off and push it all the way down into reverse. My friend said I might have to adjust cable. Look to me the cable is all the way and no more adjustment. I was thinking I have to make my own adjustment somehow. Any help would be great. . Thanks Dale

 

[GA_Boater]

Wasn't shifting working OK before the impeller replacement? Then it isn't the cable.

Try using forward.

 

[Dale18]

Yes, It was working fine last time I used this boat. How do I do the forward thing, When I went to change water pump I had it in forward and my son got in the boat and put it in neutral. Sorry for all the trouble. It has got me frustrated. Thanks Dale

 

[GA_Boater]

From my manual - Turn the shift shaft counter-clockwise until it goes into to forward. Hold the driveshaft and turn the prop/prop shaft. It will lock in one direction and click in the other.

Before putting the lower unit on, push the remote all the way forward.

 

[Dale18]

Thanks GA boater , I will try that tomorrow. Dale

 

[racerone]

You have to look at why there is no more adjustment on the cable.-----Sounds like someone messed up once before !

 

[Chris1956]

In Neutral, the shift slider should be about centered in the slide track. I would remove the shift cable from the engine mount, set the shift slide to be centered, set the gearcase to neutral and then reinstall the gearcase.

When the gearcase is installed, adjust the barrel nut on the shift cable to match the neutral position, control in neutral.

You didn't switch the cables? If you are trying to put the throttle cable on the shifter, it will be way out of adjustment.

 

[Dale18]

I have giving up on this. I can't get it right. Going to take to boat dealer. Thanks you all for all the help. I just can't figure it out.. I just saw last post I will check it out. Thanks

 

[Dale18]

Chris, Know I see what you are talking about. How do I know where the center is on the slide track? Thanks Dale

 

[Chris1956]

Dale, the slider should be about centered in the length of the slide track. It doesn't need to be perfect, just close to the center, as Merc controls have plenty of travel. The shift cable adjustment nut (barrell nut) should be about in the center of it's travel as well.

 

[Dale18]

Okay, Chris here is what I got. Okay, I did exactly what you said, I removed the foot, then I remove the shifter cable. I then put the the slider piece in the middle, I then reinstalled foot in the neutral position. then I reinstalled the cable by adjusting the Barrel nut.so that the cable went right back in where the slider was in position. This is the out come, It click right into forward and when I go to reverse I get nothing. The prop seems to be back in neutral. any suggestions.