No forward gear

[baldwisa]

Just finished replacing the lower seal. All was going well until I barrel tested it. Now I have no forward gear. Reverse and neutral are fine. Its a manual shift 1964 60hp evinrude sportfour. Any suggestions would be helpful. I checked the shift rod connector and it looked ok.

 

[F_R]

It would be difficult to put that one together wrong. But maybe you found a way. Seriously, remove the cover plates at the connector location, disconnect the connector, and see if you can shift it by moving the lower rod up and down. You will have to twirl the prop to allow it to go into gears.

 

[baldwisa]

I believe it's the shift rod connector. Does it matter which end of the connector does to the upper rod?

 

[oldboat1]

The rod(s) have to be fully installed in the connector (remove the screw or bolt. Reinsert when the indent is lined up with the hole) I use a punch or small phillips screw driver to make sure its lined up. If not fully inserted in the connector, shift rod length will be changed and shifting affected. Trick is not to drop the connector screw/bolt. Also, I sometimes use a bladed screwdriver to slightly open up the connector so the shift rod will slide in freely.

 

[baldwisa]

I'm almost positive that's my problem oldboat. I'm going to mess with it tonight. I'll post my results. I have dropped the bolts before. Sucks taking the lower unit off just to get them out. What would be the big deal if you leave them in? Would it just wash out the exhaust?

 

[oldboat1]

Wellll .. not sure, so I do the same thing and take the leg off again just to get the bolt. Can't be good in there, and besides the thing is needed unless you have extras. (extras of anything is good -- biggest threat for me is dropping them in sawdust, under the bench, etc etc. :joyous: