1973 Mercury 50hp- stuck in drive?

[98sleeper]

Hi, this is my first post. Not even close to my last. I bought a 72 steury with a 73' 50 horse Merk. the guy i bought it from didn't look like he didn't know what he was doin. he says it was stuck in drive. however he told me that his friend told him that the cable was maybe was stuck. i am as amateur as gets when it comes to boats. an explanation on how they work would be sweet also. i've read that its a good motor and im interested in learning more about them. any advice even random advice would help. thanks

 

[BR]

Re: 1973 Mercury 50hp- stuck in drive?

First, have you confirmed that the motor is stuck in gear? You can do this by moving the control lever without the motor running and check rotation of prop. Neutral - prop spins freeely either direction, forward - will turn motor over in one direction and click like a ratchet in opposite direction, reverse - opposite of forward. Easy test to do first. Assuming it is stuck in gear as you have been told, I would next check the control cable to see if it is properly connected and is actuating the shift shaft. Have a buddy move the control lever (again without running the motor) follow the control cables to the motor. The bottom cable controls gear selection, top controls throttle. Make sure the shift cable is connected and is sliding back and forth. If it is, then somebody probably dropped the lower unit and then moved something before reassembling. This is not uncommon and is an easy repair if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. Lots of other posts can give you directions for solving this. Hope this helps!

 

[tredragon]

Re: 1973 Mercury 50hp- stuck in drive?

I agree with BR. If the shift cable and linkage are moving, pull the lower unit... look on the port (left) side of the motor (standing behind the boat) with the wraparound cover taken off of the block... Two cables should come to that side from the front of the boat. The bottom cable/linkage should move back and forth when the controls are moved forward and reverse. If this is happening, check the propeller in forward, neutral, and reverse to see that it spins in opposite directions freely in forward and reverse, and that it spins in both directions freely in neutral.

My guess is that it will spin freely the same direction no matter where you shift the controls. In that case, pull the lower unit (the bottom of the motor, where the propeller is).

Should be a 5/8 nut on either side of the LU... these don't come off completely until you get all the rest off... There's another one on the underside (another 5/8 if like my 69)... and, again, if like mine, a 3/8 hex bolt that is accessed from a hole (look down from the back of the motor) using an allen (hex) wrench. I recommend a T-Handle 3/8... Lowes/Auto parts/hardware store.

Once the 3/8 hex is out, the "fin" above the prop should drop down, and up in there is a 9/16 nut to take off. After all those are off, go back to the 5/8 nuts on either side... and start loosening them further, which will push the lower unit down.

If you have help, have a buddy wiggle the prop and/or flywheel (on top of the outboard) while you separate the LU. Might wanna have a wooden block beneath it because it is heavy when it drops if you're not ready for it.

Do all of this in Neutral on the controls. Once you get the LU off, you will see a small shaft/pinion (other than the huge drive shaft) that sticks up a few inches from the LU. Wrap a rag around it a few times and then take some channel-locks (pliers) and gently rotate the shaft one "click" at a time, then check the prop to see that it freely spins in both directions. Keep clicking until it does so.

Now both the controls and the LU are in Neutral. Carefully put her back together (keep checking the prop for neutral as you re-assemble) and try the gears again!

 

[tredragon]

Re: 1973 Mercury 50hp- stuck in drive?

can we get an update on the latest?

 

[Riknar]

Re: 1973 Mercury 50hp- stuck in drive?

I went through something similar with my 1966 Merc 650

I got the LU off, clicked the shaft until it spun free

put it all back together, checking constantly...

once all was back, I shifted..and the prop continued to spin freely...no matter which way I shifted.

Any ideas?

 

[buddhapi]

Re: 1973 Mercury 50hp- stuck in drive?

well, after about a dozen times pulling off and putting on my 40 horse Mercury lower unit, I finally found that the upper shift stem was getting pushed off to the side and it wasn't coupling to the lower shift shaft. the lower unit would stay in neutral no matter where I shifted it. tomorrow, I start it up, and hope pieces don't fly.