76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

[AllAboard]

Hello, had my old Ranger Fish & Ski on the water with success for the first time Saturday after alot of maintenance on the old girl. I've got a few more bugs to work out now but I was happy overall. My main concern is reverse. I really didn't try it until the end of the day when I dropped my buddy off at the dock to go get the truck. It is a '76 inline 6 150 HP by the way.

Basically, reverse seemed to not go anywhere and act like it wasn't engaging all the way. The prop would turn but way into the throttle movement.

Today, I had a chance to play with it on the trailer non running. It seems forward works when the control is forward to the first click like it's supposed to. Then neutral is neutral but spinning the prop will still sometimes have a minor ratcheting sound. If I go to the first click back (for reverse) it will be in neutral (prop spins free both directions w/ no ratcheting sound). Reverse won't engage until the throttle is way back by the ignition switch. I'm sure that this isn't normal.

I disconnected the cable and worked the linkage on the motor and I can get forward, neutral & reverse OK.

When I compare linkage travel going from neutral to forward, and neutral to reverse (with everything hooked up) the reverse motion at the linkage only goes about half as far as the forward motion ( so I know why I'm not getting reverse until a high throttle which I don't want obviously).

I just don't know if this is a classic symptom of a cable that needs replaced, bad controls, or lower unit (please NO but don't think so) troubles.

I also noticed there seems to be alot of slop in my shifter cable. I can wiggle the throttle cable @ the motor clamp and it's tight. If I do it with the shifter cable, there is alot of play back @ the linkage.

There is a "groove/slot" that the shift cable slides in maybe. It seems like something may be wrong here, When it's tight, it seems the arm it hooks to is still loose??? It's hard to explain and I can't seem to get anything under there to see if it's bolted/pinned or?????? I can see a spring that doesn't look very healthy though.


Sorry for the long post. I tried to be as descriptive as I could so you pros can hopefully give me some guidance. I'm going to study the manual & look @ a parts fische to see if something jumps out.

I do my own maintenance on everything I own but this is my first outboard.Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: 76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

If the linkage works fine with the cable disconnected, I'd think your cable may need replacing. Just my 02

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

Remove the shift cable from the clamp. Make sure the gearcase is set to neutral. There should be no play in the shift arm. Now adjust the barrel nut to fit the clamp, w/o moving the shift arm. There should not be any play in the clamp. Use some electrical tape to remove the play.

 

[AllAboard]

Re: 76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

Thanks for the responses. Chris. My clamp is tight. I don't have any play up at the clamp. If I try to move the cables (outside the clamp) the throttle cable is tight but the shift cable isn't. BUT, it doesn't move at the clamp. It moves back by the linkage. I'm not sure if it's always supposed to ride in the "groove" or not. I can tighten the shift cable nut all the way but it's not clear to me if it's as tight as it should be from below. I see a spring below there that looks questionable, but it's hard to access.

I'll try to adjust the barrel and see if I get any improvement. If I need cables, it'll have to wait for some pesky bills get paid off first. I will post here with a result whenever that may be. Anymore thoughts feel free to respond. Thanks again.

 

[AllAboard]

Re: 76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

Well, now I've done it. I took the shift cable off to try the adjustment (which looked way off by the way) and now my linkage is stuck in forward. After I removed both cables, I threw the linkage forward, neutral, reverse, neutral, forward a couple of times. Now it won't come out of forward. WTF ??!?!?!?!?!

I'm not done messing w/ it yet but I don't want to break anything. Is there anything I can do without pulling the lower unit?

It almost seems as if the linkage went too far in the forward direction. What did I do? The dang thing worked fine except for the improper cable travel in reverse? What gives ??????



UPDATE: I got it freed up and shifting good at the linkage. It took a little persuasion. I don't know how it went past forward so easy but not back the other way. I had to get a long screwdriver and kind of press down on the pivot arm while pulling the linkage to neutral. Holding my mouth just right it came pretty easy but just trying to work the linkage, it was stuck.

But it looks like I need a new shift cable. The barrel is adjusted to it's limit and can go no further. I think I'll find the spring that goes between the cable and the shift linkage. It's pretty shot......and I'm still not sure about the cable "movement". It's tight in the clamp but has up & down movement in the "groove" it travels in. Maybe this is normal ?? Thanks again for the help.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

It sounds like you are having the most issue with the slide and it's components. The rubber block fits on top of the spring and bolt on the shift arm. This should fit nicely within the tracks of the shift slide. The white plastic plate goes on next on top of the slide, followed by the peanut shaped latch. Then install the nut, but don't tighten it. Now push the latch aside and install the cable end on the pin, and then slide the latch over it and tighten the nut. It should slide very easily.

BTW - that motor should never get stuck in forward, or past forward. You should be able to turn it (CCW) from forward to neutral with ease. It will then take a small effort to "click" it into neutral.

 

[AllAboard]

Re: 76 1500 reverse issues LONG POST

Thanks again Chris. I'll pull that cable/linkage apart this weekend and spend some more time on it. As far as the linkage shifting, it shifts with very little effort from F-N-R and back. I don't know how it got stuck further forward (clockwise) but I know one thing. I'm not trying to do it again LOL.
Your explanation makes a little more sense now. I'll see if something's worn there or parts missing. I didn't think I was supposed to have that much slop (mostly up/down movement) in the shift/slide. Doug