Shifter stuck in forward after changing water pump

[irondovetail]

Have a 1995 40 hp Mariner Tracker engine that needed a new water pump impeller. Put engine in forward and dropped lower unit and changed impeller. With a little effort was able to reinstall lower unit. ( Had to rotate prop to get drive splines to aline.). However, am now stuck in forward and cannot shift into neutral or reverse. Have dropped the lower unit and tried to move the shift lever control from forward to neutral and back into forward and raised lower unit again. Still nothing. Any suggestions on how to properly reinstall would be appreciated. Splines on shifter in lower unit look good. cannot see upper shaft, but believe it is in the plastic housing when raising the lower unit. To get the last 1/4 inch or so of lower unit closed have to snug the stud nuts, but they go up easily without more than a few pounds of torque. Am at a loss of what to do next.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Shifter stuck in forward after changing water pump

The unit has jumped by forward gear, you will have to shift it into rev gear as it cannot jump by rev as it's the highest point on the shift cam. Then shift the upper into rev and reinstall the unit.

 

[irondovetail]

Re: Shifter stuck in forward after changing water pump

Have quit for the day. to hot and humid down here. Will try reverse in morning. See you are from Northern MI. Where about? Used to live in Kalamazoo, spent a lot of time in Traverse area and had an Uncle in Tawas.
Thanks for the response.
Ken

 

[Laddies]

Re: Shifter stuck in forward after changing water pump

We live in Alanson 30 miles south of the bridge 80 miles north of Traverse city, just built a fire it's 58 degrees out.

 

[irondovetail]

Re: Shifter stuck in forward after changing water pump

We live in Alanson 30 miles south of the bridge 80 miles north of Traverse city, just built a fire it's 58 degrees out.

Thanks for advise. Used bunge cord to prevent lower unit from going down to far and keep drive shaft from dropping all the way out, To get at shifter between units used a small pair of craftsman robogrips with a little duck tape on jaws to prevent burring lower unit shifter spline when transferring into reverse. Went back togeather in a few minutes and all is working properly now. Have been thru Alanson a few times on way to Drummond Island. You are in God's country up there. . See it is only 50 degrees in Alanson right now (around noon). Hope your fire is still going. Am going back in water later this afternoon - it is in mid 70s here right now. Again appreciated advise.
Thanks.
Ken