Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

[jmulz824]

Hey guys, been doing some work on my boat, basic tune up and maintenance. The controls felt a bit sticky, I cleaned out the control box, made sure everything was adjusted properly and the cables move great, leading me to believe the issue is not in the cables, but the shift linkage in the motor.

I am kinda stuck on where to look at next, I'm pretty handy at working on stuff but since this is my first boat, I'm a little apprehensive about taking stuff apart. I don't want to break anything expensive.

Any have any suggestions on where to go and what to do next?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Ha, Ha, Ha! LMAO--Anything expensive--ROTFL. Really--- B. O. A. T. Bust Out Another Thousand!


OK-- I've had my fun with you! If it is an earlier model single carb 55, then the shifter rod will often get stuck in the lower unit. Seems like there was no weep hole in the front chamber and over years of use, silt settles around the shift rod and seizes it. Drop the lower unit--search--it has been described many times before--and try cleaning the cavity around the shift rod. If it is clean, then check the seal where the rod actually enters the lower unit. They tend to stick upon years of standing.

And don't worry: There is nothing you can break without really trying.

 

[treemaker]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Boat...A hole in the water you throw money into.

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Frank, If he mark and disconnect the shift coupler behind the leg would that give a Ya Or Na on the area that you are speaking of? Then he would miss inspecting/changing the bad looking impeller w/o dropping the LU.

Are there hang-up possibilities with all the linkage on the motor? Are there possible conflicts using his shifter and accelerator "common"? I?ll attach my 1970 35 HP Chrysler motor?s busy linkage side that might show some areas of possible hang-ups. I have others saved pics if the old Pics help. jow

PS. BTW, the acronyms are lessons, time savers & Killers! I had just looked up ROTFL.

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

I got the shifter issue squared away, while doing so, i also put a carb kit and fuel pump kit in the engine, not when it starts it idles extremely fast.... by fast i mean I don't even let it run because of fear of over reving......

I tried the idle screw, didn't work.

Where else can i adjust the Idle on this motor?

I'm at a loss...

Jeff

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Ok, I got the idle down some but still not low enough. The throttle control where it mounts on the end of the cable at the motor, doesn't adjust far enough to move the spark control tower rod back enough to slow down the idle. Where the cable mounts to the tower has a notch that locks it in place. Is there a way to move that?

I bought a different end of the cable that adjust more but still not enough. I wonder if the cable is wrong. The only reason it worked right before was because someone change the way everything mounted in the control box. I put everything in there back to factory and now have this issue.

Any suggestions?

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Post pics or links of the problem areas mentioned. jow

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Here are some pics, let me know if you guys need more or have any other questions.

The cable ends seem too long, or where the throttle and shifter linkage mount seem out of position.



Let me know if there are anyother views you need

The inside of the control box is adjusted per the the factory manual.

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

1. We have different controls and looking in both there are little to no adj to be made.

2. I?m seeing more adj in 2 cam rod adjustments to the throttle plate cam which could quest other adj vs cable??

3. Should be able to stop the racing by isolating the carb from cable or your carb?s throttle plate might need adjt.

4. Since 1985 pur I h/n needed timing on the 1970 35 HP Chrysler. I would dread the exp w/ 40 + yrs of auto exp.

5. Are you working from a manual and have some close experts that would know the cable & possible timing etc?

6. How much exp or hist do you have with this boat? I must say you are bold to jump in this deep w/o close help.

7. If you timing is adv far enough to cause the reving, I feel it could damage the pistons. Have you ck the timing? Good Luck! jow

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

The throttle issue I got figured out, was just me being dumb, once in a while it happens.

I picked this boat up a couple weeks ago, for next to nothing, runs good and floats. I had it on the water once already drove around for an hr or so. What i noticed was the throttle lever control was way out of adjustment and the boat shifted hard into gear. By out of adjustment, WOT the throttle control was way past parallel almost pointing at the boat floor. It also needed a tune up. Brought it home put carb kits and fuel pump kit, plugs.. that business you know.

While at it, I adjusted the cables in the control box back to how the chrysler manual says they should be.

In turn, this threw everything on the motor side out of wack. I have several years of automotive experience, but this is my first boat. I got things a little more sorted out on the control end but still they are not adjusted where they should be as far as shifting gears go.

Goes fine into reverse, but wont go into forward. With the shift plate/throttle lever discon from the motor the shift rod shifts fine up and down, can feel when its in all 3 positions F-N-R.

Here are images of the the motor, in reverse, fwd, then neutral



Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks. I'm already looking forward to the second best day of my boat owning life......

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Here is an image of the control in neutral as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

You Are On The Job & Getting The Job Done!! Have you checked the conditions of the oil in the LU for any signs of problems? If the shift rod is shifting into the gears, You should Be Good to Go. BUT, ?With the shift plate/throttle lever discon from the motor?. This has lost me until I see it in the man or on the motor.

I?ll show my linkage on the motor in start & reverse. There is a conflict as the neutral switch is showing 3 positions. I thought reverse was twice as I pointed with sticks to make a point. I think was related to needed adjustments/spacer/wasker etc after removing to clean the filthy motor. Too many pics to name. I have pics of linkage on the back of the leg in R F Etc if that will help. I feel you are dealing with some modifications. One Zip Tie I can see, where I used a small stainless clamp on that cracked cam rod?s end. LOL! jow

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

I see your pictures and that looks like to me how it should work.... However, mine with cables attached.... doesn't work that well, when I put my in forward it currently will not engage into fwd.

When I put the control into FWD the cable moves into the fwd position the adjustment on the cables wont allow it to go to fwd. Here is my completely unprofessional opinion.Someone (previous owner) replaced the cables with some that worked but had to adjust the control box itself to make them work.

Would I be just better off replacing the cables with new ones? The main issue that I can tell with them is, where they mount on the motor, the shifter and the cam tower, the length to the ends is too long, providing too much resistance for them to operate properly.

Let me know if this makes sense.... and if it does, is there a good set of adjustable cables to purchase?


I can explain this below....
BUT, ?With the shift plate/throttle lever discon from the motor?. This has lost me until I see it in the man or on the motor. In your second picture, where your stick is pointing to, I called the shift lever....If I disconnect the cable there, and manually move it, everything SEEMS to work fine IMO...
If I take the bolt off, and remove that lever completely, I can manually slide the shift rod into all 3 positions.

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

I?ll take another peek at my motor tomorrow. This is where I might have noticed a hang-up on shift no shift due to not having a spacer etc "replaced" correct to avoid a hang-up/mechanical clash. Will any additional angle of pics help? I hate to think there are many options on cables vs fine adjustments. The cable options might be in the manuals or parts list. Hopefully others will jump in so you can get on the lake. This North TX Heat Wave has probably shut me down this season. jow

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Your angles were fine, but I don't see anyway that what I have going on will work without new cables. Any suggestions on brand or necessary style?

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

1. I took some different pics but fill they might not be much help after looking closer at our ctrl box and cables at the motor. You might try to PM BuzzStPoint that I feel might have a ctrl box and possibly motor config.

2. My cables were very close on the motor and easily had conflicts due to screw, spacers, nuts etc as seen.

3. It works as is with a spacer adj once at arm large nut. Cable = little move Rev 9??For 6? from cable mount.

4. I?m only seeing one side of your ctrl box, is the shifting with a knob on the box? My arms have to supp ea other.

5. I have only disconnected the spark adv arm for cln/gre vs any adust. The nu swi will dict gears posit.

6. My box is a Chrysler but I h/n seen it in the Clymer man that I use of 3. The 35 was to be a starter vs a retiree soon. LOL

7. Last, have you noticed a # on the cable that might lead to some others and specs that will get you going?

Good Luck! jow

PS. I took Pics before I saw your post. 1 & 5 look repeated. Trying to show the conflicts from the back and bottom of cables where items basically touch or come very close was the objective.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Lets backup a bit here.

To check if it's a cable issue. Disconnect the quick connections from the nipples on the motor side. Leave the cable clamps on the engine.
Push in your gear selector button and move the throttle lever all the way forward and backwards. Does everything move easily? If it doesn't then we have a throttle box or cable issue.

On your pic with the throttle box, the "lower cable" the points down. I see you don't have a hold down on that cable? Was it removed for picture reasons and put back? If not, then lets get something small that you can screw into the screw hole to hold that shift cable into place.
Next the throttle cable, I see your cable is adjusted all the way tight. Make sure the end of the cable isn't hitting the cable box and causing binding there. Also does the button work on the throttle box? Pull it out and move the lever, your throttle cable should move but not your gear selector.

Now lets go back to the engine.
With the cables still disconnected, make sure the throttle is all the way back to idle. Grab the shift lever and put it into forward, Don't forget to spin the prop by hand to let it engage. Move the shift lever into reverse, not forgetting to spin the prop to allow it to go into gear. Does it go into gear easily?

Let us know.

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

?4. My arms have to supp ea other.? I feel this is where my conflict was.

1. The cable mounts at the motor were critical adjustments and my cabled barely allowed the fine adj.

2. The arms (towers) have to be in the correct position for me to shift.

3. Look close for conflicts in the towers.

4. Feel for free pivot movement in the tower?s arm (that the cable bolts to) where it?s bolted to the block. That is where I had a spacer problem that the paint showed me it was s/u wrong.

jow

 

[wickware]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

Thanks BuzzStPoint! This info should help jmulz824 with his project. It?s good to see you are monitoring. I was concerned since I h/n noticed a recent post from you. Possibly, I missed some of your post due to me trying to restrict my time on-line. Plus, I only have personal experience with my 1970 35HP Chrysler. Take Care! jow

 

[jmulz824]

Re: Shifting Issues 55HP Chrysler / Stuck Shifter?

I will check on all that stuff this evening. Been buys, had a Pro-Am golf tournament to play in last 2 days. I know if the cables are disconected from the shift lever, it goes in and out of gear easily. Just not when everything is attached.