Gear shaft not engaging neutral (E8RCRM / Evinrude 8 HP 1984)

Afterwalleye

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Oct 15, 2023
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13
Hopefully someone could point me in the right direction.

Motor is new to us; recently replaced impeller, gearcase cover gasket, shift rod o ring, etc. HAVE NOT pulled out gear shaft to preserve o rings, etc. After some difficulty, we mated the lower end with the mid section. It shifts from forward to reverse fine, the gear selector lever will stop on neutral but when turning the flywheel it still wants to spin the gear shaft (I don't remember if it's in forward or reverse while it should be in neutral).

We have not barrel tested yet but may do it just in forward to see if it possibly clears any possible debris in the gearcase (I did pour paint thinner in the gearcase and drained throughly to flush it and immediately sealed the top end cover and topped off with fresh gear oil).

I'm convinced there's something wrong in the gearcase: clutch dog, bearing(s), etc but have no clue.

Could anyone please point me in the right direction on this problem?

Thank you
 

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Crosbyman

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5,436
unless part 29 is worn.... if you did not mess with the GC innnards ...I suspect it is all good.
take it out for a ride and report back.

 
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Afterwalleye

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unless part 29 is worn.... if you did not mess with the GC innnards ...I suspect it is all good.
take it out for a ride and report back.

Ok, thank you.

The spring on part 29 seemed viable but I could imagine the contact point on that cam possibly wearing out.

I don't believe "all is good" though as it won't shift to neutral.

I'll attempt to start and barrel test in forward only to see what happens.
 

Vic.S

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Ok, thank you.

The spring on part 29 seemed viable but I could imagine the contact point on that cam possibly wearing out.

I don't believe "all is good" though as it won't shift to neutral.

I'll attempt to start and barrel test in forward only to see what happens.
Wear on the cam should be obvious.

There is sufficient drag for the prop to turn when the flywheel is turned. Mine does it!
Try holding the flywheel and then spin the prop by hand . If it will turn freely without the flywheel turning you do not have a problem.
 

saltchuckmatt

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Jul 19, 2019
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2,637
Sounds to me like you slightly pulled the shift shaft out....could this have happened? If so we can tell you how to put it back.
 

Afterwalleye

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Oct 15, 2023
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13
Wear on the cam should be obvious.

There is sufficient drag for the prop to turn when the flywheel is turned. Mine does it!
Try holding the flywheel and then spin the prop by hand . If it will turn freely without the flywheel turning you do not have a problem.
đź‘Ť
 

racerone

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Dec 28, 2013
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37,813
I think the shift rod can only go in one way on these.----Might not be easy to stick back in if it was actually pulled out.----Bearing carrier might need to be pulled out.
 

Vic.S

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IF it shifts between forward and reverse OK the shift rod is correctly engaged with the cam
 

racerone

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Dec 28, 2013
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Have to ask . as I can not see this motor.-----Running with remote controls ?
 

Afterwalleye

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Oct 15, 2023
Messages
13
Wear on the cam should be obvious.

There is sufficient drag for the prop to turn when the flywheel is turned. Mine does it!
Try holding the flywheel and then spin the prop by hand . If it will turn freely without the flywheel turning you do not have a problem.
That was exactly what was going on. Popped it in neutral, held the prop while turning flywheel and it spun freely as it should. Still not firing up just yet but we'll get there.

Thank you Vic and everyone else for your ideas
 
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