Shift Rod problem 1984 Force 85HP

[daveg85]

I have a 1984 Force 85 HP outboard that I bought new. It has never been in salt water and has relatively low hours. Last summer the overheating alarm buzzer went off briefly a few times so last week I finally got around to replacing the water pump. I purchased a complete Quicksilver water pump kit (FK1069) and followed Frank Acampora's wonderful Step By Step Impeller Change post of January, 2008 (thank you Frank!). All went fine with disassembly and installation of impeller, housing, gasket and plate. Had some problems getting the lower unit to seat all the way back into the intermediate housing but after several trys it finally went in. Thought I was home free but after reconnecting the shift rod it would not shift. I disconnected the shift rod and here is what I have: moving the shift rod up and down and rotating the flywheel clockwise, the prop is always turning clockwise (forward), never in neutral or reverse. Also, I can spin (rotate) the shift rod. I never touched the pivot screw at the bottom of the lower unit and it appears to be in securely. When I was attempting to get the lower unit back into the intermediate housing I think I remember being able to pull up on the shift rod by at least two inches which now doesn't seem like it should have moved that much. I am afraid that something must have come apart at the bottom of the shift rod which I guess means that I am screwed, but I don't know what I could have done wrong. Have never had any problems with shifting in the past.
Would appreciate any advice as I am headed out on vacation in three days and was planning to take the boat.

Thanks

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Shift Rod problem 1984 Force 85HP

The spinning rod is part of the adjustments. It may have gotten completely unscrewed somehow. Try to screw it back in. Bottom out and come back 4 turns.(I believe).

 

[daveg85]

Re: Shift Rod problem 1984 Force 85HP

Thanks foodfisher. My manual doesn't seem to indicate that my shift rod is adjustable by turning it but I will certainly try it. If it doesn't work I am going to drop the lower unit again and play around with it where I can see things better.

 

[daveg85]

Re: Shift Rod problem 1984 Force 85HP

Okay, I dropped the lower unit again and foodfisher, you are correct. I can carefully pull the shift rod up and out of the seal on the water pump body and there are threads on the bottom-no damage. I must have missed the caution note in my manual not to rotate the shift rod.
So, since the pivot screw has not been touched I am thinking that the shift rod coupler and all other parts are maybe still in place and there is maybe some hope of following foodfisher's advice and continuing to jiggle things around while turning the shift rod clockwise to see if it might screw in? I am concerned that I think I read somewhere that the stuff down in the bottom is configured in a way that it is spring loaded to be in Forward gear and I am concerned that that might pivot the shift rod coupler to a position that it will not line up with the shift rod. Any thoughts?

 

[daveg85]

Re: Shift Rod problem 1984 Force 85HP

After Much trying I finally got the shift rod to thread into the shift rod coupler and manually turning the driveshaft and moving the shift rod up and down, I have forward, neutral and reverse, so I think it is all in place! Thank you foodfisher!!

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Shift Rod problem 1984 Force 85HP

The adjustment up and down is just to match the connection above the midleg. Major adjustments for forward and reverse are above the lower cowling. Sorry the proper terminology escapes me at the moment. Me and Jack got along very well this evening..Your welcome. Edit: Just passing it along.