1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

[Jacob645]

So, the last couple of times I've gone out on the lake my motor doesn't want to engage into reverse. It does that awful clicking sound, so I just drift until I can go in forward which is ok until the wind changes directions. It's done that before but only because I think it was idled too high. I let it get down to barely a sputter before I try to put it in reverse and it still does it. The thing is, when it's in neutral or forward, it won't idle without the lever up a tad. Any thoughts would be much appreciated! I'm going out Friday! By the way, it's snowing here in EAST TEXAS right now!

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

Could be just out of adjustment, over time the shift cable will stretch.

Pretty easy to adjust, pop off the hood and find the shift cable, there should be 2 cables, one goes to the carbs and other is the shift.

Figure out which way it needs to adjust by moving the throttle and just turn the knurled knob that direction until it shifts like it should.

You really want to watch making that grinding sound, that is the clutch dog wearing out and they are very expensive.

In a lower the gears are always turning if the motor is running, how it shifts is sliding the clutch dog back and forth on the prop shaft and engaging 2-3 ears in the gear to make it turn, the grinding is those ears not quite engaging.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

It is a little easier on the mechanical and hydro-mechanical gearcases to set the shift cable as follows:

1. Pull the spark plug wires to prevent starting;​

2. Disconnect the cable at the engine;​

3. Manually shift to reverse and forward and back to neutral (turning the prop will help) and verify that the shift works;​

4. Move the control arm to full forward and back to neutral;​

5. Adjust the cable using the trunnion knob until the cable slips back onto the shift lever without any adjustment of the lever.​

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

as ezeke said. i would disconnect the cable and shift the motor manually, then reconnect as ezeke said. if it does not shift then, you may have a worn out cable, not unusual, especially if original. going to forward is a pulling of the cable, going to reverse, if the cable is bad inside, it will not push far enough to shift.

 

[Jacob645]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

Ok, so I checked the shifter and it is going in reverse (prop was locked). I noticed that after I put it in reverse and moved the prop that from the remote it shifted a lot easier from neutral to reverse. So before I break this thing let me make sure I understand. I need to disconnect the cable from the shifter then push the remote all the way up to forward then back to neutral for sort of a home base. Then adjust the cable to that position of the shifter so there's no lag. Correct?

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

Yes, but the cable needs to be adjusted to the lever on the engine. It should not strain anything. You just want to leave the shift lever in neutral and adjust the cable to meet it, with the remote control in neutral so that everything is synchronized. After that the remote should move the gearcase to forward and reverse with relative ease.

Remember to have the warm up lever down before you shift.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

And if you haven't, check your lower unit oil, shifting problems are sometimes caused by lack of oil.

 

[Jacob645]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

Just checked the LU oil and it was milky white. Looks like i got me a leaky seal. Didn't see any metal flakes or anything so I guess that's a plus. I'm gonna change the oil out and try her again. How much would getting new seals cost?

 

[DJ]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

The fill and drain plug seals are the most common to fail. Replace those, refill and re-test.

 

[Jacob645]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

Ok, so I redid the LU oil and seals. Adjusted the cables and it still won't shift into reverse unless it's just about to die, but still rarely then. I noticed that the prop moves outward when shifted into reverse and back in when shifted into forward. Is that normal? Also, on the rare occasion that it does go into reverse it does fine while in. I can give it gas and everything with no problems until I take it out then it won't go in again.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1975 Evinrude 50hp- Reverse please!

The prop and the shaft should not move in and out more than 1/8" no matter what gear you are in..

The propeller itself requires a Thrust Bushing forward of the propeller and a Propeller Nut Spacer behind the propeller to keep the propeller stable on the prop shaft.

Without those parts, the propeller will damage the gearcase.