Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

[dubs283]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Okay tomorrow I guess I'll pull the lower again... and check to make sure it engages in reverse. I know it engages in forward because that's how I reinstalled the lower. Any ideas how to check to see if the lower shift cable is working properly?

just pull the whole drive assy

seeing as how you are going through the engine and drive, its a good idea to check out the u-joints, gimble bearing, bellows, etc...

if the engine and drive need work, i guarantee the transom assy needs attention too

besides, you should be pulling the drive and inspecting/maintaining the transom assy and bellows regularly anyways

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

dubs +1

 

[Old Boat Luvr]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Thanks achris. I have a buddy coming over this morning to help me check this out. If the shift cable has excess play does it need replaced? are they still available?
dubs283: this boat has really low hours on it. Probably less than 150hrs and it was always stored in a garage for it's entire life so that's probably all fine. I had to replace the manifold because water was left in it and it froze and cracked and I had the head rebuilt because someone had used unleaded fuel in it and had burnt a couple valves but the inside of the engine was as clean as a new one and when I changed the impeller pump it was still soft and supple and in perfect shape. I could have sworn I checked forward and reverse when I first got it and it checked out good but that was 6 months ago and can't remember. I've never worked on outdrives before so I don't know what I need to replace if I start tearing stuff apart. How often do you need to pull the whole outdrive for inspection? Seems a little rediculous. Maybe I should stick with outboards.

 

[ihaveabrownboat]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Remove the lower shift cable from the shift plate. You are going to need someone to help you for the next part.
While your helper slowly turns the propeller CCW, push the lower shift cable in. The prop will lock and the cable will stop moving. That's full engagement of forward. Make a mark on the cable barrel. Now have your helper turn the prop slowly CW while you pull out on the cable. When the prop locks and the cable stops, that's full reverse engagement. Measure the distance the cable has moved, it should be around 1-23/32". If it's significantly more than, that you have excess movement on the lower shift cable, or the associated shift mechanism hardware. The cable should also be quite easy to push in and pull out (not withstanding the resistance of the dog clutch in the gear case.)

Chris.......

If the travel distance is off what problems are suggested? I'm getting ready to do this same chore on a boat that goes in to forward normally but won't go in to reverse when the boat is in the lake.

 

[Old Boat Luvr]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Okay the cable travel was 1-13/16". Also it seemed to be kinda hard to fully engage reverse. I adjusted the lower cable on the shift plate for maximum travel but that doesn't help and I also noticed when I have someone shift from neutral to reverse I do not see any movement at the link between the bottom of the upper shift shaft and the top of the intermediate shaft as stonyloam suggested. This is getting irritating.

 

[Old Boat Luvr]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

I also noticed that the lever on the bottom of the upper shift shaft can be moved around. That must be my problem. Something inside there must be loose or something.

 

[dingdongs]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

watch this a few times.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_tgevX2aI

 

[achris]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Cable travel is fine. Seeing no movement at the link between upper and intermediate shift shaft IS a problem. You need to find out where you've lost communication. Me, I'd be pulling the drive (only takes 3 minutes) and that way you have 'split the problem'. Any stiffness in the cable is a bad sign...

Here's some videos to help you out.

Removing drive: http://youtu.be/w3O63YTOhn8

Checking alignment: http://youtu.be/w118LGsYgY4

Installing drive: http://youtu.be/aGVrY4cWiDA

Shift cable adjustment: http://youtu.be/-s_tgevX2aI

Chris........

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Okay the cable travel was 1-13/16". Also it seemed to be kinda hard to fully engage reverse. I adjusted the lower cable on the shift plate for maximum travel but that doesn't help and I also noticed when I have someone shift from neutral to reverse I do not see any movement at the link between the bottom of the upper shift shaft and the top of the intermediate shaft as stonyloam suggested. This is getting irritating.

Ah ha! OK need to check a couple of things. the fact that the shaft is not moving and it is hard to engage reverse suggests that the intermediate shift shaft is off a spline. Need to make sure that it is rally stuck in reverse. with the control forward try to turn the prop counterclockwise (looking from behind). Does it lock? If it does it is in forward gear. If it locks when you try to spin it clockwise you are in reverse and need to drop the lower and reposition the intermediate ss on the lower ss. You may think it is in forward, but it may actually be in reverse.

 

[achris]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

You might be one tooth out on the splined shift shaft. .....

Chris: If it were off a spline the control would be jammed, and it would be stuck in reverse, ....

Ah ha! OK need to check a couple of things. the fact that the shaft is not moving and it is hard to engage reverse suggests that the intermediate shift shaft is off a spline. ......

I'm not going to say 'I told you so'... .Well, actually, I am... [size=+1]I told you so![/size]...

Chris.....
(I just couldn't resist that....)

 

[dubs283]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

this boat has really low hours on it. Probably less than 150hrs and it was always stored in a garage for it's entire life so that's probably all fine

famous last words, its not only the number of hours that wears out bellows, age of the bellows has a lot to do with it too

How often do you need to pull the whole outdrive for inspection? Seems a little rediculous.

i think the recommended interval is 100 hours, or every other season for mc-1 and alpha style drives, bravos pull every year

some people pull em every year for routine maintenance, not rediculous at all,

as stated before it takes about three minutes

read the quote under this post
v v v v v v v v v v v v v

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

I'm not going to say 'I told you so'... .Well, actually, I am... [size=+1]I told you so![/size]...

Chris.....
(I just couldn't resist that....)

OK, OK just a matter of having ALL the information LOL.

 

[Old Boat Luvr]

Re: Problem with outdrive not going into gear?

Well gave up and took it to a guy down the road that works on boats (semi-retired boat mechanic). Him and his son found out the lower shift cable housing was rotted out for some reason and allowed to cable to occasionally squirt out so I'm gonna have him replace it and the gimble bearing(which wasn't very smooth), and some o-rings on the outdrive that are causing oil to leak into U-Joint area and anything else they find that needs replaced. I'll watch him so I can do it myself next time.