Honda 9.9 won't shift into reverse

[bknier]

I have a 1992 Honda 9.9 that won't go into reverse. When I move the shift lever to reverse it only goes about half as far as it does for forward, and the roller for the neutral start cable doesn't roll all the way into the notch for reverse. Something out of adjustment or blocking the ability to shift fully.

Note I have the lower unit off since I'm replacing the impeller today too so there's nothing interfering there. The shift rod in the shaft doesn't seem to be hitting anything. But had this problem before I did anything to the lower unit. In fact, I suspect the shop that took care of an impeller job last season might have done something to mess this up. Of course I didn't notice a problem until a couple months after they worked on it because since it's my kicker for trolling, I don't use reverse on it very often. So I can't be sure.

Anyway, any ideas on where I should be looking for something blocking or what I might try to adjust? I'm getting a bald spot from scratching my head trying to figure this out.
Thanks!

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Honda 9.9 won't shift into reverse

The engine has to be running in order to shift it.

 

[pvanv]

Re: Honda 9.9 won't shift into reverse

Yep. It's a mechanical clutch dog. The driveshaft should be turning (the engine needs to be running) for the clutch to engage.

 

[bknier]

Re: Honda 9.9 won't shift into reverse

Thanks, guys, but it seems it's not as simple as that. It doesn't shift into reverse when running either. It feels like there's something solid blocking moving the shifter to the reverse position. It can also sometimes grind a bit as if trying to go into forward while in neutral, and it feels like the motor engages into forward well before rolling into the notch. Does it sound like I just don't have the barrel nut between the two shift rods adjusted right or is it something else? The shifter "blockage" feels the same to me when the lower unit is attached and the motor was running as it did with the lower unit removed and the motor off.

 

[pvanv]

Re: Honda 9.9 won't shift into reverse

Possibly out of adjustment -- almost in F when the lever is in N.

 

[bknier]

Re: Honda 9.9 won't shift into reverse

I adjusted the barrel nut on the shift linkage enough to get fwd and neutral set right, but I still can't get it to shift into reverse. The resistance or blockage shifting to R feels the same whether the engine is running or not and when the lower unit is removed.

 

[Rickdh]

Mine is doing the same thing. Have you found a solution?