Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

[pokerface]

85 hp 1973 evinrude .Went to the river last weekend and was pulling a skier and the shifter got hung full throttle.I killed it and shifter would not come back up easy,so I forced it up.When I put it in neutral and started it and put it in gear it wouldn't go in gear, just reved up. I had to undo the cables on the motor to get it to go in forward, I adjusted the cables and now I have no reverse. Seems to me it's coming from the throttle control.What can I do???

 

[ezeke]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

You either pulled the cable loose from the casing guides' set screws or possibly broke the cable. The casing guides have opposing set screws that hold the cable and that's a weak point for the cable.

Another weakness is the turns in the cable which should not be less than a radius of one foot. That is especially important where the cable enters the engine compartment and tilting the motor can easily bend the cable.

 

[pokerface]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Do you think the cable would be broke if it goes into forward gear good???

 

[ezeke]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

More likely that you pulled it loose from the casing guide, but if it is bent it may be hard to move permanently.

 

[pokerface]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Alright...Thank you so much for your help, I appreciate it!!!

 

[pokerface]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Is there any way I can test to see if it is my cable?

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

That control box is made from nylon, and cast aluminum part's. It would be hard to say what is broke. Brute force is not the way to go with many things mechanical.

 

[asdasc]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

I would take apart the controller. It is pretty easy, just do it where if something falls out you won't loose it. My guess is that you will need to lubricate the cable and the controller. Then re-adjust the cables.

I assume that when you disconnect the cables, it shifts fine? If not, then you may have seperated the shift rod in the lower unit or something.

 

[pokerface]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Took it to the lake today and it done fine but still no reverse.

 

[asdasc]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Not to be nit picking, but that isn't really safe if you need to stop suddenly.

Have you tried disconnecting the cable at the motor and shifting it by hand back at the motor? What happens?

 

[pokerface]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Took the control apart today and the teeth on the cogs was not aligned right. turned them the correct way and reverse and forward worked fine.

 

[asdasc]

Re: Shifter control won't take reverse. Please help

Excellent news! I am glad to hear you got it working. So many times I get things that people say are broken and find out they just need to be taken apart and put back together right.

Have a safe boating summer.