84 merc 150 shifting problems?

[jman72637]

OK, here is my short but sweet story...
Bought a 150 from New Jersey and had it shipped to Alaska, Motor worked great shifted fine....pretty much perfect. This year I took it out and I had noticed that the throttle cables were sticking.....not a problem it cost me 41 bucks to get brand new ones. I really didn't know how to get them sinked up but I just went off the old ones. Took it out again and it worked fine(never got it over 3000rpm, short boat ride). Now, this last weekend I had it out and at low speeds it would engage and spin fine but then it would sound like I hit something but I didn't, so I repeated and it did it again. after that I shut it off. So my question is: would my lower unit possibly do that if the cables weren't sinked up right? Or should I assume the worst and get the lower unit checked out.
Thanks to all you gurus in advance......
Hopefully its a cheap fix

J

 

[j_martin]

Re: 84 merc 150 shifting problems?

OK, here is my short but sweet story...
Bought a 150 from New Jersey and had it shipped to Alaska, Motor worked great shifted fine....pretty much perfect. This year I took it out and I had noticed that the throttle cables were sticking.....not a problem it cost me 41 bucks to get brand new ones. I really didn't know how to get them sinked up but I just went off the old ones. Took it out again and it worked fine(never got it over 3000rpm, short boat ride). Now, this last weekend I had it out and at low speeds it would engage and spin fine but then it would sound like I hit something but I didn't, so I repeated and it did it again. after that I shut it off. So my question is: would my lower unit possibly do that if the cables weren't sinked up right? Or should I assume the worst and get the lower unit checked out.
Thanks to all you gurus in advance......
Hopefully its a cheap fix

J

Cables not set up right can lead to real expensive repairs. I'd suggest you get an oem maintenance manual as soon as you can.

On that engine, the throttle cable when in neutral and the idle arm is down, should press the low speed rubber bumper against the stop enough to hold a piece of paper snugly, but allow it to be dragged out.

With the shift cable, you disconnect the cable, get the motor in the neutral detent position, and the controls in the neutral position, then adjust it so it drops freely in place.

Not exactly rocket science, but if it's off, it can hurt the Lower. If the cable is adjusted right, and the lower exhibits the symptoms you describe, it's broken, and breaking worse.

How about preventative maintenance. When was the last time you changed the lube in the lower unit?

hope it helps
John

 

[jman72637]

Re: 84 merc 150 shifting problems?

Hey martin I appreciate you taking the time to reply.
This is the thing....I had the lower unit rebuilt in August last year and also winterized in October, I make them drain and put in new gear oil at the end of the year so I am ready for the spring. So it has only been run I would say about 5-8 times since August. I do have a warranty on the lower...but that would be just fantastic if I ****ed it up.....go figure. Let me give you a little more info to see if you can help: I dropped it in on Friday night fired it up and it worked great.....full throttle and going 55mph. When I was trimming it up and going to shore is the first time I heard the clunk.... I really didn't think anything of it...deep enough water and everything....the next day is when it did it multiple times at low rpm. I didn't advance it anymore because it didn't sound to good.
So my next question is after using cables a time or two do they need to be adjusted again? break-in? and then a final adjust? I am guessing not because there cables and not bungy cords.
Anyway,I appreciate your time and if you can give me anymore info it would be appreciated

Thanks again
J

 

[j_martin]

Re: 84 merc 150 shifting problems?

No, one adjustment is enough. If, however, it was not going fully into forward, it stresses the dog clutch, and it may eventually begin to skip, then totally fail. At that time, you might be able to rescue it by getting it fully engaged.

I can imagine it's possible to have an adjustable change in cable length as it finds it's natural resting position in the gunwale mess.

You might be stripping a prop hub, also. That's pretty much considered a maintenance item.

hope it helps
John