I’m reviving this old thread of mine. Short story is that last season I had lost reverse on a VP 280. I had tried adjusting linkages, made sure the cable was properly seated in the anchor plate, adjusted the trunion etc. but couldn’t get it to work.
When I finally hauled it for the season I put in new pawls for the reverse lock mechanism (maybe that was an unrelated problem), changed the drive oil (was a little milky) and maybe made an adjustment to the cable at the helm..,and voila I had reverse again.
It lasted almost the whole season but now I’ve lost reverse again. The very interesting thing is does seem like it WILL work ONCE when I first start the boat up. Then it’s clunky going back into neutral, and then it won’t work again. But the pattern seems to be that if I wait a day it will work again once.
I did notice the drive oil was milky when I changed it last season. The drain plug gasket seemed like it was not in great shape so I had replaced that. It is possible that after a while into the season the oil is getting thinned out at that’s why I lose reverse? Then when the water settles in the drive overnight it gives me enough viscosity for one shift before it all churns up and thins again? I don’t know…I’m grasping at straws.