Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

[arbogaster]

A friend of mine just bought an older 60 hp Mercury and it appears that the remote or something in the lower unit has been put in backwards. When you shift into forward gear the prop turns in reverse and when you shift into reverse it turns forward. I thought it may be that this is a reverse rotation engine but am unsure if I can tell that from a serial number or not. Is it possible that something was put in backwards?? Everything seems to shift fine and the motor aparently runs good. I'm half tempted to get some reverse rotation props and call it a day. Sorry about the lack of info on the motor? All help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

Hi Arbogaster,<br /> This is a common problem, usually the result of someone working on the motor previously without a manual. <br /> All you will likely need to do is drop the unit and position the shift rod in the proper position, as it is currently out of alignment. A manual is a must and will cover how to properly align things...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[arbogaster]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

I had a 30 hp johnson that the clutch dog went out in. I tore that down and replaced it so I know a little about that lower unit. I dont see (at least on that johnson) how the forward / reverse would be switched by the rod alignment. There was some adjusting to make sure that it was fully in and out of gear but other than that when the rod was up it was in forwad and when it was down it was in reverse. Unless somone put the thing that holds the clutch dog in backwards. I'm not sure if it would even fit in there though if you did that. Hmmmm??? You said it was a common problem, I guess people do it often. Thanks for the reply. Sounds like I need to look in the lower unit.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

When shifting into forward the shift box should move the cable fwd for fwd and back for rev if the box is assmembled right, and if that the cable is moving in the right direction then the shift cam is in the unit upside down--Bob

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

With the shift in Fwd, the prop should ratchet in that direction. If you try to move the prop backwards, it should lock. I just mention that in case you're judging by how the prop spins by hand.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

Mercs shift differently than your old Johnson. The Merc units use a rotating shaft that has a cam on the bottom. It actuates a plunger in the center of the propshaft which moves the clutch dog. The cam can be rotated 360-degrees which is how things can be out of whack. You can go BEYOND reverse gear position and end up using the other side of the cam which gives the appearance of shifting BACKWARDS. ..<br /><br />If you drop the unit and rotate the shift rod through the rotation you'll feel detents through one part of the rotation. Those detents are only found on the correct side of the cam and that's the part you want to have it aligned to. If you can find neutral detent (prop spins freely) then rotating it clockwise one detent should give you forward (prop ratches clockwise looking forward and locks in the other direction) and counterclockwise one detent should give you reverse (prop locks both directions).<br /><br />Hope that helps clarify things...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[arbogaster]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

You guys are awesome thanks for all the help ! !

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

On a similar note, I replaced the impeller in my Mercruiser 160 yesterday and thought I had everything right but must have screwed something up in the shifting. Now I have neutral, no forward and when I shift into reverse the engine dies. I was told to put the lever in forward and hold the lower shift shaft clockwise and I should be ok. Either this was wrong or I didn't hold it properly. Any tips on how to do it correctly? thanks

 

[Snagged]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

Mercs shift differently than your old Johnson. The Merc units use a rotating shaft that has a cam on the bottom. It actuates a plunger in the center of the propshaft which moves the clutch dog. The cam can be rotated 360-degrees which is how things can be out of whack. You can go BEYOND reverse gear position and end up using the other side of the cam which gives the appearance of shifting BACKWARDS. ..<br /><br />If you drop the unit and rotate the shift rod through the rotation you'll feel detents through one part of the rotation. Those detents are only found on the correct side of the cam and that's the part you want to have it aligned to. If you can find neutral detent (prop spins freely) then rotating it clockwise one detent should give you forward (prop ratches clockwise looking forward and locks in the other direction) and counterclockwise one detent should give you reverse (prop locks both directions).<br /><br />Hope that helps clarify things...<br /><br />- Scott

Thank You, fourth time up and down.......now I've got it.

 

[tredragon]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

thunderroad:

You need to put the controls in neutral, drop the LU, wrap a rag around the shift shaft (small splined shaft nearest the transom), grab some pliers or vise grips and carefully turn the shaft a click, then stopping to check that the prop spins freely in BOTH directions (since your controls are aligned in neutral. More than likely you shouldn't have to twist too many clicks, but try both directions if necessary. When you put the LU back up, before you tighten everything completely down, check that forward and reverse each only allow the prop to spin in the appropriate direction for the gear your controls are in.

 

[swabby]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

Hello, ChineWalker... and Good Day

I was reading your post on how to tell what gear your in. Well, as several of the members here, I aquired an old "65" 500, and trying to figure what is going on with the Mercontrol box, and the motor. I did pick up a Mercury shop manual, and it does say that all 2, 4, & 6 cylinder models are "All Gear Shift" models. It seems though, that I don't have a neutral on this one, it's Forward & Reverse only. I do have an older 500 "62" and it is stated on the drive housing "All Gear Shift" and it is a FNR motor... where as this one does not. (it just say's 50 horse)
I'm having a heck of a time trying to sync the control box, and the shift actuator @ the motor. But, to get back to what I wanted to say, was my prop ratches counter-clockwise, and locks clockwise ... when I manually shift the motor into the Forward gear, @ the motor. When I shift it into Reverse, it does lock in both directions. What do you think ? Any help is much appreciated, I don't have much hair left.
Thank you, ChineWalker.

Swabby

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

Not all inlines were FGS, some were direct reversers. The easiest way is to look at the number of solinoids under the cowling. Dock Busters have two, one to start the motor in forwards direction, the second turns the starter the other way, and it starts in reverse. No neutral.....

 

[swabby]

Re: Older Mercury fwd & reverse switched ???

Count the solinoids ? Oh Boy... Now I'm confused Where would these solinoids be, in relation to the Starter relay which sits on the starter ?

Thank you