Lever on Bottom of OMC Shifter

[DDS2008]

When you are in neutral and you pull up on the lever on the bottom of the shifter should the engine stumble or is that lever just a safety device to keep the boat from going into gear without pulling up on it? When I push the shifter forward it seems like the gears grind more then nomal before they engage and was wondering if this could be the problem.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Lever on Bottom of OMC Shifter

if you are talking about the button on the bottom side on the handle itself, that you squeeze with your fingers, it is a neutral lock, so the handle does not get knocked accidentally into gear. has nothing to do with the motor.

when shift, the shift should be a quick deliberate movement. not a slowly pushing it into gear. everytime those gears grind, is wearing the shift dog, and the lower unit will eventually need to be rebuild. if you are idling to high, can make it hard to shift.

 

[DDS2008]

Re: Lever on Bottom of OMC Shifter

Thanks so much for your reply. I just fixed the ground on the ESA
so the engine does now stumble when I push the shifter forward.
It just seems like I have to push it so far forward before it goes in
to gear that it is past the stumbling phase and alot of grinding
is occurring. I'm also probably guilty of thinking the slower the better.
I should probably be doing as you suggested and make it a more
deliberate movement forward as that does make sense to me. I will
give it a try the next time I put her in the water and reply back with
the results. Thanks again for your help.


Doug