getting into gear help

[Mr. Regular]

Hello, I have a 1990 i/o boat and it seem to have trouble getting into gear. When i try to put it into gear it sounds like its grinding. After messing with it, it eventually kicks in. Can anyone help with this problem? IS there something wrong or is this normal??

 

[QC]

Re: getting into gear help

Welcome aboard!!

I moved this to the I/O section, you posted in the Mercury OB forum.

There is an area where the clutch dogs are engaging that you need to move the shifter quickly through. If you are hearing a clunkety, rhythmic clicking sound then you are lingering there. What you are supposed to do is quickly move through that so you don't hear it. There is some slop built into the shift mechanism so you don't accelerate until well after completing a shift. You need to practice shifting faster and farther so that you don't hear that sound and she clunks firmly into gear. When you do it properly there will be no rhythmic sound and you will still be at idle speed. If these instructions solve it, then it is normal. If you can't deftly and quickly shift through the noise, then there may be an issue. Good luck!!

 

[Johny25]

Re: getting into gear help

This is something I see often at the boat ramp with people who are not used to boats. QC is right on the money, don't be afraid to shift hard and fast when going from N to F or N to R. And you want to hesitate for a second in N when going from F to R or visa versa : )

If you still have issues grinding then you have other problems

 

[Mr. Regular]

Re: getting into gear help

cool thank u. sorry rookie owner here

 

[Johny25]

Re: getting into gear help

We all were rookies at some point : ) That is why this place is here, to keep you from making mistakes we made when starting off. Some people go through a set of gears or two before they figure it out. Now if you ever see someone at the boat launch doing this you can help them out : ) pay it forward eh

 

[Bondo]

Re: getting into gear help

cool thank u. sorry rookie owner here

Ayuh,.... Just to be very Clear,.... What motor, 'n drive ya got,..??

 

[QC]

Re: getting into gear help

Yeah, I assumed Mercruiser because he originally posted in the Mercury OB section, and assumed Alpha because of the clunks . . . ASSumes are bad.