1995 120hp Force Shift Rod Mistake

[tater76]

Hey folks, so I screwed up after hurrying though an impeller change on a 95 120 Force. I forgot to put the shifter in forward before pulling the lower :facepalm: My brain tells me that to reinstall, I just need to shift the handle into forward, then turn the shift coupler on the lower until forward gear is engaged, then gently reinstall the lower making sure the coupler and rod splines line up right? Well.... I must be missing something because it just refuses to be set correctly. Oh, this is the Merc style lower unit if that helps. Any tips would be greatly appreciated as the manual is kind of bleak on correcting stupid mistakes.

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1995 120hp Force Shift Rod Mistake

So to clarify, are you able to get the gearcase on, but it doesn't shift properly?

OR

You can't get everything to line up, so you can get the gearcase fully on?

If this is the case, you need to have someone else SLOWLY wiggle and turn the flywheel (clockwise when looking at it from the top), while you wiggle and push up on the gearcase.

I have found the 70-75-90-and 120 gearcases difficult to install, as the driveshaft doesn't want to slide in place.

 

[tater76]

Re: 1995 120hp Force Shift Rod Mistake

Sorry, yes to clarify I have not been able to get the correct gear orientation with the shift handle. The first time I reinstalled the lower I had forward and reverse mixed, second time just forward and neutral, third time neutral, now just forward. The gearcase is fine, its just setting the linkage correctly, and keeping the gearcase in gear that seems to be the issue. I was just hoping that there was a procedure for resetting everything that was not outlined in the manual?

 

[bentle]

Re: 1995 120hp Force Shift Rod Mistake

While shifting , or turning the coupler into forward gear you need to rotate the prop clockwise until you hear the clutch dogs ratchet. Control box should be in forward gear as well. Then install the lower.

 

[tater76]

Re: 1995 120hp Force Shift Rod Mistake

Thanks for the reply's, I finally got it after ALOT of R&R'ing the lower. Ended up doing what you said bentle, thanks again.