Clutch Dog question

[number_juan]

Hello im new to the forum, but if feel right at home. I went out in my boat it has a 1985 50hp johnson, and when i put it in reverse, it just made a ratcheting sound. When i got home. i removed the linkage and put it into gear manualy from the little linkage arm under the cowl. Both foward and reverse went in good. My question is could my clutch dog be going bad, or is it possible for the control cable to stretch. I tried adjusting it and it would go too far foward, or too far reverse.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Clutch Dog question

if the cable has never been replaced, it could be going bad, inside. putting into reverse is a push function on the cable, if the inside is bad the cable will just sort of bunch up inside and not push all the way. forward is a pulling function, and the remaining good wires in cable, are pulling forward. 99% cable.

Welcome to iboats.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Clutch Dog question

Welcome!!

Yes the cable can stretch but that usually shows up as a problem going into forward. If you have had trouble going into forward and have adjusted the cable to get more forward, you may have finally adjusted too far to get reverse properly.

There are other ways for the cable to go bad so you won't get the proper travel to go in reverse. Also remember that just because it shifts OK out of the water it may or may not shift properly in the water.

Take the cable off and center it over the linkage while in neutral. The trunion should be about 1/2 way. If it looks off the cable is probably bad.

If it still doesn't shift correctly in the water, take the cable off and shift by hand. Then if it doesn't work properly the engagement lugs could be bad.

Now, this is all assuming the lower unit has not been off and it was working properly until now. If the unit has been off recently we may have a shift rod height issue.

 

[number_juan]

Re: Clutch Dog question

Thanks Guys, I Think I Am Going To Take Off The Cable This Weekend And Purchase A New One (only $20 ) Cheap Insurance. I Am Going To See If This Works, Hopefully This Works Dont Want To Drop Lower Unit .......

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Clutch Dog question

I doubt it is your dog, as it shifted fine manually without the cable attached. Just remember, most dogs do wear due to improper shifting by the operator. You should quickly snap it into gear with a deliberate movement, you dont want to slowly ease it into gear. That causes the precisely machined edges of the dog and gear to bang bang bang against one another, rounding them. The dog can also wear due to improper adjustment or worn shift linkages. Hopefully the new cable solves your problem, good luck.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Clutch Dog question

To add to what HighTrim said, it would be very unusual for the clutch dog to be worn in reverse, but OK in forward.