V150 --- gear housing reassembly/shift shaft question

[Capt. Crunch]

I have a question about the shift shaft alignment on my '78 V150. While I had the gear housing off, I inadvertently bumped the shifter where the controls attach. The motor was shifted into Neutral when I dropped the gear housing to rebuild the water pump (I'm now realizing that my manual may have had a typo and everything should have been left in Forward).

Upon mating the gear housing back onto the mid section, I moved the shifter slightly so the shift shafts would mate and bolted everything back up. My question- is the shift shaft keyed so it will only mate correctly? Or could I be 1,2, or 3 splines off? I tried to center the shift arm in the middle of it's travel, but it would only mate when it was pushed a little more towards Reverse. Now that it's together, it seems as though I feel a definite drop into Forward and Reverse which seems good, as well as spinning the crankshaft gives me the propper rotation. I only hesitate to say it's 100% because the shifter slide block never reaches it's full travel towards the Forward direction, but then again, maybe it never did because there seemed to be a ton of heavy grease pushed up there...

Sorry for the long question... just looking for some ideas.

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[fishingdan]

Re: V150 --- gear housing reassembly/shift shaft question

No, the shaft is splined and can connect in a few positions. If I remember, the splines are very few and it will only connect in 4 positions.

It sounds like you may be ok. My lower unit slips into neutral everytime I remove the lower unit. I don't know why, but now that I know that it can be managed.

 

[Capt. Crunch]

Re: V150 --- gear housing reassembly/shift shaft question

Thanks for the help. I watched the upper shift shaft turn as I pushed it from forward to reverse and it only turned about 90 degrees total, so the slot where it mated should be ok with only 4 splines. Just like you said.

I really appreciate the input. Thanks!