Honda stuck in reverse

[firstlight]

Newbie to the forum....great stuff. I'll keep it short. I've recently purchased a 20'CC with a 1997 Honda 90. She ran fine until yesterday when I shifted it into reverse and she jammed there. Not a good feeling backing around the mooring field at 5 knots....afraid to shut her down because of the in-gear lock out. In any case, got her back on the mooring, and to make a long story short, found the reverse and forward shifter pawls jammed together where they enter the motor. Easy fix to separate them....uneasy feeling to not know if and when it'll happen again. She has always been tough to shift into reverse and has a very slim neutral window....I've lubricated everything I can see. Any suggestions for a more permanent fix??

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

I'll wager your cable snapped.

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

That's exactly what I thought....turned out the cables are ok. For some reason the shifter pawls jam when shifted quickly into reverse (happened again this weekend at the gas dock). I need to jump in and figure this out...any help in cable adjustment would be appreciated.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

hmm-hav to elaborate on that. pawls? Is ths in h powerhead, gearcase or control box?

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

The pawls are the threaded knobs just inside the motor cover on the right hand side (looking at the motor). When shifting, the one closer to the center of the motor seems to bend sideways and when shifting quickly, actually jams the second lower one. This leaves you locked in reverse and no throttle control. Just bought the boat and the owner said it was all set up by his mechanic...thus my hesitancy to change things without a little knowledge of what I might affect.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

Ok- I follow now. That's interesting as I have adjusted these pawls when I changed my cable and sitting here, I cannot even visualize how it's possible for one to jam the other unless the little pin is the cause.<br />When you say 'bends', there is a rigid sheath followed by a pushrod that moves the arm. What part of it is bending? It must be bending only when extending, correct? Hmmm. If memory serves, the one closer to the centre is the throttle-but i'm not positive without looking. It's quite easy to remove the little brass cubes (pawls?)-just remove the pin. After that, you can try moving the black plastic arm manually to test for resistance. I would imagine that someone might have to spin the prop a little to go back on forth from forward to reverse but I would start monkeying with this and see where it goes. Do you have a digital camera to post a pic? I just can't see how it's bending.

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

Thanks for the input......I'll do that this weekend and get back to you. Funny you should say that it should be impossible for the two to jam....even on a slow shift, they pass within 1/8 of and inch of each other in the midshift position. Perhaps the pix will help. Might need help posting photos.

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

Hey Majbach.....if you follow this link there's pix of my shifter situation. Pix # 307 and 308 show the pawls when in reverse (as you'll notice they're almost touching.) #309 shows the linkage coming into the motor....does it look a bit crooked to you?? I did pull the pawls offf the weekend and found it quite hard to shift into reverse by hand. Also found the washers that are used to back up the pawls (threaded knobs) laying in the motor. I'm thinking this might have given them a bit of excess play. http://photobucket.com/albums/y72/wwallace50/

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

Hmm- This actually looks quite a bit different than mine. *Maybe I haven't woken up yet*. The onlt thing that really jumps out at me is the length of the rigid arms that house the push rods inside the cowl. It almost looks as if there isn't enough travel to bring the gear shifter into reverse. Give me a day to maul the pics over - I have a busy week ahead.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

Firstflight: Have you remedied this problem? Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner - exams all week. I took a look at my set-up and right away I knew the problem. On the shifter that controls the throttle ( inside and high one ), swicth the brass pawl to the other side of the black arm - problem solved.

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

MajBach: I'm on my way to the boat tonight.....I'll give it a try. Thanks in advance.

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

Many thanks, MajBach. Moving the pawl made all the difference. Now if you could take a peek at the back of your tachometer and tell me which setting it's on, I'd be forever grateful. My motor tachs out a 4200 rpm and I'm wondering if it's the tach or the prop. Since this "mechanic maintained" boat had the shifter in the wrong spot, who knows what else he screwed up.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

LOL! How ironic, I had same prob with my tach early this season at 3000 rpm (is yours a Faria). My problem however was from corrosion buildup and it was a ***** to fix. Taking the dash apart is also just as much a task. Somewhere I MIGHT still have the little diagram I made to where the wires go, but will it do you any good(different colour wires).<br />If your tach is moving, then I would submit the wires are all correct, but there is a little dial on the bottom that has to be set according motor. I DO remember where this dial is supposed to sit. With the tach out and looking at it from behind, the dial is in the furthest most counter-clockwise position. I'm 99% sure of this. The other 1% tells me the furthest most clockwise position. <br />On my tach, you need a tiny slot screwdriver to turn it and it is notched on the inside. Again, if yours is not Faria, then this dial position may be incorrect. I do not recall there being any numbers on it for resistance.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

firstlight: how did the tach problem work out?

 

[firstlight]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

I went to the dealer and he told me it took a 4 pole pulse. I made the adjustment on the back of the tack (it's a teleflex) to the 4P (it was on 6P) and that made it worse (3200rpm at full throttle). I'm thinking I'll buy a new Honda tach over the winter and be done with it. I tryed identifying the prop pitch but either my eyes are too old to see it or it's been painted over.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Honda stuck in reverse

tell you what-save you the expense of a new tach (heck, you could buy one and have the same problem!).When I winterize my boat I have to pull the tach off to send it away for servicing, I'll note the setting and let you know.<br /><br />when you park your boat for the winter, remove the prop and keep it in the trunk of your car. next time you pass a prop place, run it in and they;ll be able to tell the pitch in an instant.