EVINRUDE Lower end taken off to see why it would not stay in gear except at high speed. No clutch/dog problem. replaced seals and water pump and now I cannot move shifter into reverse-but-it will go if I push the cable pc backward by hand. (Ser #J0567731-1985). Now my neighbor tells me and nowhere else did I see this, that the shifter rod has to be a certain distance from the machined surface of the lower unit. I had screwed the shifter rod all the way in and then backed it up to have the bend facing the linkage hookup. I am fairly certain that there is no more than 1/2 inch if that of threads on this rod end. Is there a dimension I need? There is not enough adjustment externally where the cable is secured to gain the extra throw I need to get it into reverse. There is no changing the cable length inside the OMC control box. Cannot even get it back to where it was shifting before taking it apart. My reputation is now in in the basement!
Regards,
Jeff
Regards,
Jeff