Shifting very difficult

[Grub54891]

I retired a couple weeks ago, cleaning out the toolbox, I found a bent one. Yes it’s bent from removing the drive in gear. The bend is towards the top/neck area.

 

[Bondo]

I retired a couple weeks ago, cleaning out the toolbox, I found a bent one. Yes it’s bent from removing the drive in gear. The bend is towards the top/neck area.

Ayuh,..... Congratulations,.....

 

[redlinj]

I retired a couple weeks ago, cleaning out the toolbox, I found a bent one. Yes it’s bent from removing the drive

I retired a couple weeks ago, cleaning out the toolbox, I found a bent one. Yes it’s bent from removing the drive in gear. The bend is towards the top/neck area.

Congrats on the retirement! Obviously, difficult to see any bend but not questioning it! So I’m assuming you put the drive back in and had the same issues I am having. Shifts like butter when engine not running??? Took it out on the water today and did more cable adjusting but to no avail! Gonna go and pull the boat out tomorrow and remove the bottom end! I haven’t come across any you tube videos yet, but is it difficult to remove/replace this intermediate shaft???? Thanks!

 

[Grub54891]

Yeah, that’s from when I worked at a shop rebuilding drives. Had issues after the rebuild, after exhausting troubleshooting it boiled down to that. The owner had removed the drive himself so it was something I didn’t check/ find right away. Ugh. I actually had it my hand today to throw away, then remembered about your issue. Yeah it’s hard to see where it’s bent but it is.
Once you split the drive it’s easy to replace it. And much easier to re-assemble if you pull the entire drive and have it on a fixture upright for re-assembly.

 

[redlinj]

Yeah, that’s from when I worked at a shop rebuilding drives. Had issues after the rebuild, after exhausting troubleshooting it boiled down to that. The owner had removed the drive himself so it was something I didn’t check/ find right away. Ugh. I actually had it my hand today to throw away, then remembered about your issue. Yeah it’s hard to see where it’s bent but it is.
Once you split the drive it’s easy to replace it. And much easier to re-assemble if you pull the entire drive and have it on a fixture upright for re-assembly.

This has been a headache for several weeks now! Will be pulling the boat out today! I’ll keep you guys posted! A water pump replacement will probably be a good idea also! Thanks !!

 

[Bt Doctur]

 

[Grub54891]

View attachment 366485

OOhh... That's a nasty one! Never saw a bent shoe up there!

 

[redlinj]

OOhh... That's a nasty one! Never saw a bent shoe up there!

Looking at it, seems that the shoe would/should be the weak link of that articulation! A thin u shaped piece of metal vs a big solid shaft! Can’t wait to look at mine!!!

 

[redlinj]

Finally got the outdrive out and split it! Removed the intermediate shaft! Looked, looked and looked! Very hard to see bend! Laid it flat with the head facing me, the flipped it and a definite twist appears! I’ve tried to post the pics, don’t know if I’m successful or not! If not, I’ll keep trying! Will order a new shaft and water pump and O rings for the drive shaft! Hope this is the problem!!

 

[Grub54891]

Yes, that is hard to see, that’s why I didn’t see it when I rebuilt that particular drive. Live and learn. It cured the issues we had when we did it. Won’t hurt to check the upper shoe out also, your there so may as well do it.

 

[redlinj]

I haven’t gotten around to putting the drive back together yet, but soon! However, just curious, but why does the shifter, when the engine isn’t running, shift like butter, but when engine is running, it regularly gets hung up?

 

[Rick Stephens]

Just curious for a bit more information here... you are in the water and with motor running - it has trouble coming out of gear? Or does it have trouble going into AND out of gear?

 

[redlinj]

Just curious for a bit more information here... you are in the water and with motor running - it has trouble coming out of gear? Or does it have trouble going into AND out of gear?

The shifter moves smoothly from neutral to forward to neutral to reverse or any way you want, like it always had! Start the engine and now we have the problem! Not that easy to get in any gear or out of! Eventually, yes, but it will get stuck in f/n/r! Even though the intermediate shift shaft doesn’t appear to be bent, it could possibly be, so it’s on order! New bellows, gimble bearing and lower shift cable were installed! Maybe the lower shift cable was not properly installed?

 

[Grub54891]

Under load, it will act differently. Just the way it is. With the bent shoe and things spinning in the drive it's trying to do what it's supposed to but can't. Wen not under load it just jiggles itself into place. Poor explanation but hay it's hot today and stuff.

 

[redlinj]

Grub, your poor explanation actually makes alotta sense! When I removed the lower shift cable from the upper shift lever, it assumed that crooked 1o’clock position! Was able to level it out ! The problem? Maybe! Will know more when the parts come in by maybe end of the week! One last question; the black plastic end of the shift cable(the crooked 1:00 position part) has about 1/4 to 5/16” of fore and aft movement on the white plastic sheath/cable. Is this normal?????

 

[Grub54891]

That seems a bit much play in-the cable. Ya know you may as replace that also. I believe the play should be no more than 1/8”.

 

[redlinj]

Supposedly, the lower shift cable was changed along with the bellows! Only has minutes on it as opposed to hrs! New, but defective? Maybe!

 

[hgxsilver]

You’ve probably seen a lot of ‘em! I’m starting to think something else could be the problem! Two in 20 yrs. ??? Odds are now, it is something else! I’ll keep you posted!

It happened to mine as well, well it was bent before from the previously owner. Got stuck in the harbour because it wouldnt turn fully and had to be towed.

 

[Bondo]

One last question; the black plastic end of the shift cable(the crooked 1:00 position part) has about 1/4 to 5/16” of fore and aft movement on the white plastic sheath/cable. Is this normal?????

Nope,.... The safety wired set screw is supposed to be screwed in, so that the piece can easily rotate, without fore/ aft movement,.....

 

[Grub54891]

Yeah I'm going with an improper install myself. Check it over well and see what ya got.