1967 Mercury 110 9.8hp...stuck in foreward...lower unit trouble

[jwsimmons]

I have a couple questions about the impeller/lower unit.
1. I recently changed the impeller and when I put the lower unit back on the motor and went to the lake, it was stuck in foreward. Even when I changed the switch lever over to neutral and reverse, it was still in foreward. I took the unit off again and fought with it for over an hour but still couldn't manage to get it right. Is there a trick to this? Am I missing something?
2. Before I changed the impeller... the motor was not pumping out of its usual place along the upper part of the shaft. I decided it must be the impeller and changed that right away. When I took it out on the water (and it was stuck in foreward) it started pumping right away but then quit after a minute or so. Do you think there could be something else in a cooling line that has clogged it. Does anyone have any other ideas? The old impeller was ready to be changed. It had one flap broken and the rest weren't as flexible as they should be. I did have the motor in salt water and that seems to be when the water pump problems arose.

 

[ryland43]

Re: 1967 Mercury 110 9.8hp...stuck in foreward...lower unit trouble

if the gear case is still in working order your should be able to turn the shift shaft until it clicks into neutral. i have a 1964 merc 500 and had the same problem. i turned the shift shaft (counter clockwise i think) till it clicked into neutral, you have to twist harder than you would expect. you will be able to feel when it snaps into neutral and the prop will spin freely in either direction. be careful putting it back together because any hard bumps will knock it out of gear. hope this helps good luck.

 

[jwsimmons]

Re: 1967 Mercury 110 9.8hp...stuck in foreward...lower unit trouble

I'm pretty sure I tried that but no luck. It was still stuck in foreward. Just to check, there is only two positions for the shift shaft correct? I assume I want the engine in nuetral as well as the "shift shaft" on the lower unit in neutral. This is very agrivating b/c it is so close but you can feel it getting hung up in there! Anybody got any tricks?

 

[jwsimmons]

Re: 1967 Mercury 110 9.8hp...stuck in foreward...lower unit trouble

Anyone have any other ideas/tricks up their sleeve?

 

[tbonetowers]

Re: 1967 Mercury 110 9.8hp...stuck in foreward...lower unit trouble

When you are putting your lower unit back togeather make sure to have another person with you and have them spin the flywheel why you push up on the unit till it goes flat against the bottom. I have had to do this 4 times now on my lower end unit. This should help you as far as getting it back up with out going crazy. If you are still stuck in forward then pull your prop of and there is either a plastic or aluimun nut that holds your shaft in place. Un-screw it counter clockwise till it comes all the way off. Then pull the spindle shaft out of the housing. At the end of the housing there is a pin in a spring. Look to see if it is round. If round then replace. If this doesn't work let me know and I will give you some more information to help you further.