1963 Murcury 50hp Lower Unit

[LakeMead]

I have a 1963 Murcury 50hp. I am trying to put the lower unit back on but I am having a hard time getting my FORWARD/REVERSE to work. Can someone tell me what position my gear needs to be in when I slip the lower unit back into place?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1963 Murcury 50hp Lower Unit

Search this board for Merc lower unit and you will find the thread I had on this about a month back. Same engine, same question. Everyone said have it in neutral, then my boat guy said put in forward first. Easier to get it back on without problems if its in forward, based on my very limited experience. Just my 2 cents.

 

[LakeMead]

Re: 1963 Murcury 50hp Lower Unit

All that info should help. Do you know if the shift cam should be rotated all the way clock wise or counter clockwise? When rotated all the way clockwise it will stop and lock into a neutral position. If I put it back on in this position it is hard to shift it into forward but reverse is smooth. I am afraid to start the motor not knowing if it will cause damage.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1963 Murcury 50hp Lower Unit

Be sure to get a manual it will save you all this agravation and time.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1963 Murcury 50hp Lower Unit

Check the threads New Impeller and New Impeller (blues) II on this board. Good info on this very subject. In the meantime, try this: put your shift lever in forward on the box, put some grease on the driveshaft and on the shift shaft on the lower unit, tun the shift shaft until the prop shaft ONLY ROTATES CLOCKWISE. Put your lower unit on and check for all three gears: prop should freewheel easily in N; rotate only clockwise in F and rotate only counterclockwise in R. And steelespike is right of course, next step is to go to Ebay and get a good Merc service manual. I found one there for about $30.