stuck in forward

[sullypat]

HELP!!, just replaced my water pump and got the lower unit back on. (Only removed the lower unit not the entire outdrive) Now I can't get it out of forward. (merc 4.3 Alpha 1) The throttle will pull back to neutral, but won't go past it. I really gotta pull on it to get it into neutral.

I checked the the gear shifter on the lower unit to make sure it was rotated all the way clockwise before putting the lower unit back on. Turned the shaft counterclockwise and the prop spun clockwise so i'm pretty sure it was in gear correctly.

The shift shaft? (small copper/brass tube with a cotter pin in it, not the water tube) in the upper housng dropped a few times while i was working. I had to fidget with it (spin the shaft) to get to go back up. The tube spun freely, felt like i had to line it up with some thing to get back up.

Of course i checked the shifting after I re-filled it with gear lube. A little too excited to get it back in the water.

 

[rbh]

Re: stuck in forward

Have a look and see if there is any up and down play between the two shift shafts were they meet by the rear nut, if there is no play in the lower one, something is bound up.
Also double check to see if the helm shifter is in the forward position.

 

[dubs283]

Re: stuck in forward

sounds like you maybe got the shoe off a spline or two when reinstalling the gear case

or the shoe did not line up with the fork in the bell housing

 

[sullypat]

Re: stuck in forward

RBH, thanks for the quick response. The helm shifter was in forward when i removed the lower unit and stayed like that until i put the lower back on. How do i check for up and down play between the shift shafts? take the lower unit off?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: stuck in forward

Unable to shift out of forward, and the control handle jammed is a symptom of incorrect indexing of the intermediate shift shaft on the splines of the lower shift shaft. What happens is the gearcase slips out of forward (ss turns CCW) while you are putting it back together and the intermediate shift shaft is pointed straight ahead in forward, but the gearcase is actually in reverse. After you get it together the lower ss is already in turned CCW, and when you try to shift out of forward the upper shift shaft tries to turn it farther CCW and it will not go. So: Shift the control handle all the way forward, drop the lower far enough to turn the lower ss all the way clockwise, and use a bungee on the prop to hold it in gear. Put it back together with the intermediate ss pointed straight ahead, and you should be good to go. Good luck.
P.S. Make sure the stainless steel washer is in place on the lower shift. If in place your up-down play should be OK.

 

[sullypat]

Re: stuck in forward

Stony, thanks!!!! I'll give it a shot and let you know how it comes out.

 

[sullypat]

Re: stuck in forward

RBH, Dubs, Stony, thanx for all your help. Got the lower back on and it's shifting properly. You guys rock!!! That was the deal - the lower wasn't in forward gear.

 

[dubs283]

Re: stuck in forward

glad to help and thanks for the update

good to know that things are working out