Forward or Reverse gears not engaging

[parker1700]

I have a 1995 Envinrude 88spl that does not want to go into forward or reverse when I initially try to shift from neutral. If I back off and try again it will eventually engage. However I hear a lot of gear chatter before it engages. The engine also idles at 1,100 RPM which needs to be adjusted. Could this be the problem.

 

[imported_lorin]

Re: Forward or Reverse gears not engaging

The idle should be around 650 when in gear. Having the idle almost twice as high is not too healthy for the gears and clutch dog. After you get the idle down, if there's still a shifting problem, try disconnecting the shift cable end from the motor. Then try shifting it by hand using the shift lever (which the cable was previously attached to). If it shifts ok then you have a bum cable or control box.