After getting my new to me motor running (no spark), I discovered that reverse doesn't work. It kind of works, but you can hear and feel the gears grinding. Hooked up to the hose, it engages and spins just fine. In the water is when it doesn't work correctly. I do have OMC type C fluid in the lower unit.
I've read through all the threads I can find about the same issue, and all of them point to the shift switch being the problem, but nobody ever posted if they solved the issue and fixed it.
I've tested the switch, and the resistance on the shift solenoids. Here's my readings:
Forward: Blue wire .09v Green wire .14v
Neutral: Blue wire .14v Green wire 12.7v
Reverse: Both wires 12.7v
Solenoids:
Green wire, neutral solenoid: 8.9ohms
Blue Wire, reverse solenoid: 6.1ohms
Service manual states that solenoid resistance should be between 5 and 6 ohms. It doesn't say anything about the switch voltage. Instead, it just states to check whether the circuit is open or closed.
So my question is where to go from here.
Drop the lower unit and physically inspect the solenoids?
Wire in a 3 position toggle switch to replace the shift switch? (Yes, I know the danger in that. I've read about it overriding some of the safety features, and the possibility of accidentally switching from forward to reverse at full throttle)
Replacing the shift switch with a new one isn't an option. I don't have $300 laying around to spend on it.
Any ideas?
I've read through all the threads I can find about the same issue, and all of them point to the shift switch being the problem, but nobody ever posted if they solved the issue and fixed it.
I've tested the switch, and the resistance on the shift solenoids. Here's my readings:
Forward: Blue wire .09v Green wire .14v
Neutral: Blue wire .14v Green wire 12.7v
Reverse: Both wires 12.7v
Solenoids:
Green wire, neutral solenoid: 8.9ohms
Blue Wire, reverse solenoid: 6.1ohms
Service manual states that solenoid resistance should be between 5 and 6 ohms. It doesn't say anything about the switch voltage. Instead, it just states to check whether the circuit is open or closed.
So my question is where to go from here.
Drop the lower unit and physically inspect the solenoids?
Wire in a 3 position toggle switch to replace the shift switch? (Yes, I know the danger in that. I've read about it overriding some of the safety features, and the possibility of accidentally switching from forward to reverse at full throttle)
Replacing the shift switch with a new one isn't an option. I don't have $300 laying around to spend on it.
Any ideas?