1983 Evinrude 60 hp Help!

[Huntingfishing]

I have a 60 hp Evinrude 1983 and I am baffled! I just replaced the gear set in the gear case and I am unable to have forward or reverse. When I replaced the gears all the did was pull out the old ones an put the new ones in. My shift rod is perfect at 20 29/32" to the center of the hole (which is where its suppose to be), and I just put on a new shift cable.

Out of the water it will go into forward and reverse, in the water I can have forward but no reverse, or i can spin the adjustment on the shift cable and have reverse but no forward. To adjust I have to spin the adjustment about 10-12 times to have one or the other.

Does this sound like I need to shim the gears even though the werent shimed when i pulled the old ones out, or could it be something else?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1983 Evinrude 60 hp Help!

The measurement of 20-29/32" is correct BUT when you set that measurement, was the lower unit in neutral AND did you measure from the top seating surface of the lower unit (alongside the shift rod), that is the surface that would fit tightly against the long exhaust housing.

The above..... I assume you did the measurements correctly as I think it would be impossible to obtain that 20-29/32" measurement otherwise.... but I had to ask.

Shimming, even if required would not result in the problem you've encountered.

I've looked the lower unit parts book over and can see no possible reason (internally) that would allow such a problem UNLESS for some reason the carrier assembly is not seated properly which would result in excessive space between the pinion and reverse gear, BUT if this was the case, the gears would destruct almost instantly.

Did this engine shift normally previously, and if so, have you or anyone else performed any work on the control box?

 

[Huntingfishing]

Re: 1983 Evinrude 60 hp Help!

Now you've got me second guessin myself on if the shift rod was in nuetral when I made my measurement (which is a good thing thanks).

Ive owned the boat for four years an i am the only one who has worked on it. To answer another question of yours, it shifted great before I changed the gears which kinda steered me away from shimming but i wasnt sure why i would have such a problem. The whole gear assembly was suppose to be an easy in out job with no shims or tolerances.

I am not sure what the control box is off hand but I dont believe I have ever worked on it cause Ive had to do very little to this motor.

 

[Huntingfishing]

Re: 1983 Evinrude 60 hp Help!

Dang I just pulled the lower unit and I measured correctly. There is a lil slop though in my shift rod but only about a 1/16" so I just centered my mesurement.

Take this with a grain of salt i guess, when i first placed the lower unit in I didnt measure my shift rod and occasinally I had forward and reverse but im not sure if it was lower or higher than 20 29/32". ITs not exactly easy to just adjust the shift rod one turn at a time till its right if you know what I mean.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1983 Evinrude 60 hp Help!

If still a problem..... check that the adjustable trunion on the shift cable is a snug fit in the powerhead cable clamping area. Also look closely at the engine's shift linkage to make sure that a nylon bushing isn't missing or worn out. A slight bit of play can be critical.