Motor dies in reverse

[richc007]

Ok I will try to as brief as I can. Here we go:

Sterted motor without water hooked to it. Had to replace water pump in lower unit. Didnt put it in forward before pulling unit. split lower and upper drive, replaced pump and put back together. I am darn sure that I have it right. Shift boot is facing forward and the motor starts in neutral. Goes into forward just fine and back to neutral no prob. When i go to put it in reverse it dies before it engages. I did notice there is a switch on the motor between the shift cables that seems to engage only when in reverse.

I did not change any adjustments at all.. All i did was replace the pump. To me it seems like I either have the lower unit off or something has changed that I am not aware of...

Thank you all for your help in the right direction.

oops... Its a 88 searay with a mercruiser alpha1 lower unit and a 4.3L.

Hope this helps...

 

[frostywalrus81]

Re: Motor dies in reverse

To me it sounds like it may be your Lower Shift Cable. When was the last time you were able to put it in reverse. If it has been awhile then it may very well be the Lower Shift Cable cause when the cable sits and isn't used it tends to corroding and doesn't want to work. You can try to adjust it but that's only a temp fix.

 

[richc007]

Re: Motor dies in reverse

Unfortunatly it worked fine prior to me taking the upper and lower drive off... Like I said I think I have it put back in the right way. everything starts up fine, goes into forward just fine, but no reverse.

Frustrating to say the least....

 

[chris0061]

Re: Motor dies in reverse

It may be the lower shift cable. but depending on the year when you take that lower unit off it may not hit just right again what you can try is on you lower shift cable stud, not the baral but the end loosin the inside nut and move your adjustment arm that the cable hooks to to the other end of the slot. try that and if that fails go threw the entire adjustment process. I found out the hard way when I thought my lower shift cable went out. Some crackerjack supposed to be mechanic put a new one in and come to find out it was the shift lever in the gimbal bell housing that was bad. Try to adjust.

 

[chris0061]

Re: Motor dies in reverse

that switch your talking about has a white roller on it and when you put it in reverse it needs to be in the center of the V its called the cut out switch.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Motor dies in reverse

If it worked before you worked on it then review the work performed.
control box in fwd
lower shift shaft turned fully clockwise,prop locks ccw and hold with bungee
insert lower making sure lower shoe engages splines in a straight line(bow-to-stern) ,raise slowly sliding lower shoe into upper shoe,snug 2 side nuts and manually test shifting before installing the rest.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Motor dies in reverse

If it worked before you worked on it then review the work performed.
control box in fwd
lower shift shaft turned fully clockwise,prop locks ccw and hold with bungee
insert lower making sure lower shoe engages splines in a straight line(bow-to-stern) ,raise slowly sliding lower shoe into upper shoe,snug 2 side nuts and manually test shifting before installing the rest.

X 2 it sounds like you are out of alignment when you installed the drives or lower units shift shaft arm with the up side down [L] on the drive that would slide into the bottom of the bell housing shift shaft assy is off aujustment. To do it right you need to be in fwd, Then have the drive up side down [L] pointed fwd while pushing it at the same time holding the prop shaft counter clock wise with pressure. And make sure when installing the [L] it goes in the shift shaft arm that has a slot for the [L] to slide in to at the bottom of the bell housing shift shaft assy.Then tighten every thing up and recheck the shifter while on the trailer by putting it in fwd and make sure the prop locks up one way and also it will spin and click the other way then put in revers and the prop should lock up the other way while turning it. Just my 02 worth. Good luck with it.