1967 40HP Evinrude hard to go in gear..

[WimJall]

My old girl went for a maiden voyage Saturday morning for the first time in 8 years.. Going into gear was extremely hard. Trying to dock was no joke. I would have to pull/push very very hard to get it into neutral and then back into forward or reverse. Any ideas why this maybe? With cable unhooked from motor the cable moves like butter, so I know its not the cable.
Any ideas what to look for when i pull the lower unit off?

 

[racerone]

Any water in the lower unit ?

 

[WimJall]

Any water in the lower unit ?

Like as in when I check the fluid level does water come out? No.. Its a tan color though...

 

[racerone]

Remove lower unit.-----Then see if problem is in midsection or the lower unit.

 

[WimJall]

So can anyone give me advice as to what I'm looking for as to why it was hard to go in and out of gear? Everything is there, everything looks to be in good working order.. No teeth missing. How easily should I be able to slide the bushing that the clutch dog goes into? Possible that the spring and ball bearings are compromised on the shaft?
Is it possible to put the pin back in and have it forward of the shift fork?

 

[racerone]

The purpose of the spring and ball bearings is a detent.-----Too many folks were easing these motors into gear resulting in damage.-----The detent is a way of ensuring that some effort is required to help with a quick motion of the clutch dog.-------Not sure what you mean by " hard to go in gear " in this case.----Careful work is required to line up the hole before shift pivot pin is installed.

 

[F_R]

How hard does the shift lever move when the lower unit is removed? I'd rather think the problem is up above, rather than in the lower unit.

 

[WimJall]

How hard does the shift lever move when the lower unit is removed? I'd rather think the problem is up above, rather than in the lower unit.

It moves like butter.....

 

[racerone]

The controls are smooth.----The motor and midsection is smooth.-----So the perceived problem is in the lower unit.-----The detent set up is meant to give a " positive neutral " with some effort required to shift into gear.---It was designed that way.-----Nice looking boat and motor.-----They were simple and well designed.----Ready to go another 50 years I would say.

 

[WimJall]

Would old fluid cause the issue? I know when I tried it in a bucket it moved fine.. Just not so fine out on the water.

 

[racerone]

Not likely a fluid problem.----But does the shift rod move through the bushing / o-ring in the gearcase with little to no effort ?

 

[Chinewalker]

Careful - your "drain" photo shows he pivot pin removed. That's NOT the drain screw!! If you've removed that screw before, you may have found your issue. If the shift fork is bent or not aligned properly it can very definitely cause problems shifting.

 

[WimJall]

Yup, k was unaware there was a drain further down.. And that's what I was questioning why it may have been shifting hard... I did that just before I took it out.. Problem found? Fork is not bent.

 

[WimJall]

So upon further inspection.. It appears I am missing the metal strap the goes over the pinion gear.. Any chance that may cause it hard to shift in and out of gear? Even the screws are Mia..