weak reverse gear

[luvmychrysler]

Hello all, my reverse gear is working but it does not produce much thrust. I was told that the motor should produce the same power in reverse as forward. when I put the boat in reverse it will move the boat in that direction but with very little power. I am using the old three button electric remote control system. Is there anything I can do to improve the reverse thrust or could it be a weak solenoid in the lower unit? The motor is a 1971 Evinrude 50hp outboard. Thanks<br /><br />Keith

 

[djzyla1980]

Re: weak reverse gear

I have a 1970 115 electric shift. Reverse is weak. They aren't made to pull the boat like forward does. I try not to use reverse as much as possible. Easier to push away from things then to putt along in reverse... sometimes depending on how the water is I BARELY move. Might just be me thinking this is the way they were, but only a pro could answer that. I just live with it

 

[CATransplant]

Re: weak reverse gear

Lots of things working against you in reverse. First, the prop was designed to produce thrust to move the boat forward. The blade design doesn't make a lot of thrust in reverse.<br /><br />Second, you're pushing that big fat stern through the water, instead of the sleek bow. Lots and lots of resistance.<br /><br />Third, you don't want to go very fast in reverse in any case. All you'll get is water shipped in over the stern. <br /><br />I can think of very few situations where you'd need lots of power in reverse, or much speed at all. The boat isn't under as good control in reverse, either.<br /><br />I rarely raise my engine speed above idle in reverse. I back away from the dock, just far enough to be able to turn around, then head off in a forward direction.<br /><br />It's not the electric shift mechanism. It's just how things are.

 

[luvmychrysler]

Re: weak reverse gear

thanks for the input. The problem is that I have to rev the engine in reverse before I can get it moving. Im not looking for great thrust but it does seem that the motor is at mid throttle or higher and im just sitting still?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: weak reverse gear

Hmm...well that hydro-electric shift unit uses a clutch dog, so you're either in gear or you're not in gear. There's no halfway.<br /><br />I'm guessing it's just a combination of prop design and hull design that's keeping you from moving well in reverse.<br /><br />One other factor could be the relative position of your prop to your keel. Remember...when you're in reverse, the prop's pushing water toward the bow, instead of off the stern. <br /><br />If you think about it, it all depends on how much water flow you're getting.

 

[steamboatwilly]

Re: weak reverse gear

You know,another thing,if you think about it,the prop. is pushing water into the transom,giving it a shove same as the motor is getting.(Hummm,,,no wonder I have trouble getting my boat to back up).

 

[luvmychrysler]

Re: weak reverse gear

what if the wires to the solenoids in the lower unit were switched around. would that cause the wrong solenoid to activate in revers?

 

[djzyla1980]

Re: weak reverse gear

The wires are soleniods are controlled by 12v current. So you will either have foward only (defualt) no nutruel or no reverse. If the wires are switched... then you would be going reverse in nuetral and nuetral in reverse or vise versa. There will be no in between

 

[CATransplant]

Re: weak reverse gear

Dave's right. It's either in reverse or it is not. There is no halfway on that engine. If the prop's turning backwards, it's in reverse.

 

[djzyla1980]

Re: weak reverse gear

Maybe were not getting the question here Cat.<br /><br />I was thinking the question was my reverse doesn't work as good as my foward, and that I believe was answered. But is the question really I have no reverse whats wrong?