140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

[mnmattie]

So my 140 mercruiser I'm working on is giving me more greif and I'm suppose to take it camping this weekend!

It would have trouble shifting into forward, the clunk, clunk, clunk then it engages. Reverse was no problem.

i just replaced the waater pump in the lower unit and now it won't engage into any gear at all. I wanna say that I need a new lower shift cable since it seems that those go out all the time, but is there something I could have missed if it doesn't engage at all anymore? I removed the lower cable from the motor well and tried adjusting it by hand as I spin the prop. It will not engage into forward at all (you can hear slight clicks like it's close but nothing engaging) and you can get it into reverse.

Sound like a lower shift cable to you guys?

-Mattie

 

[mnmattie]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

anyone?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

Sounds like you forgot the washer when you re-assembled the drive:

 

[mnmattie]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

crap I don't remember seeing that in there! So there is a rubber washer underneath the stainless steel washer?

 

[jtybt]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

Did you make sure the lower shift lever, referred as the foot, was correctly placed so it would turn to lock in the forward position?

 

[mnmattie]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

........hmmm this is just as embarassing as forgetting to put the plug in before putting it in water!

If i remember right the "foot" has 6 keyways so if it's off a keyway it won't engage? I had put the throttle in the forward position, well eitherway it looks like I'll have to remove the lower unit again.

-Mattie

 

[swampboy]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

Sounds like you forgot the washer when you re-assembled the drive:

Sorry to butt in, but I have a similar problem. I have a 1966 Gulf Stream with MerCruiser Stern drive. I installed a water pump kit in the lower unit. . I had the remote shift in forward position. Raised lower unit stopped with about 1/2 " to go. I moved the prop shaft conterclockwise, and no luck. After looking at the pictures I made of the lower unit, I noted ther was not a separate SS washer onto the shift shaft as shown in your quote. Maybe it was left out by PO.?? Is this a special washer"? I have some SS washers, but what about the rubber washer? Thanks Swampboy.

 

[mnmattie]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

That's my problem too! there's no SS washer when I pulled it apart and when I tried reinstalling the lower unit, it would stop 1/2" before fully mating with the upper unit. Hmmmmm

 

[swampboy]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

OK. I got the lower unit to engage into the upper unit. I had "My" helper turn the prop counterclockwise, and it went up. I didn't add any additional S/S washers. In the posted picture, it looks like the washer is flush with the top of the bushing. My washer is not flush with the top of the bushing. There may be room for another washer on top of the original one. Should I install an additional S/S washer?? How much of the shift shaft arm should be mated into the foot? My shift shaft is right at the bottom of the foot. I moved the remote shift lever, and I was able to shift into forward and reverse. And back into neutral.Thanks for your help.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: 140 mercruiser, shift problems....let me know if i'm right

hate to say it but your first problem would need to have your cable adjusted some would sayreplaced but a little adjustment would have helped it shift better.