shifting problems after replacing waterpump

[phoenixragtop]

I replaced the water pump on my 97 125hp mercury and cant get it to shift with the controls but can unhook the shifter cables and get all gears by sliding the shift block. Is this a shifter cable problem or do i have the shifter rod coupler out of sink? I have had the lower unit on and off about 10 times and same problem each time.

 

[latin monkey]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

did you make sure the shifter on your control is in the same position as what gear the lower unit is in when you hooked it up?

 

[IronOutlaw]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

Yeah I had the same problem with my 83 115. I had the gears that connect the shifter and lower unit off one notch and it would come out of reverse. Basically everything has to line up exactly like it came off or it won't work. I bet you moved the shifter with the foot off like I did.

 

[phoenixragtop]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

I have tried at least 10 times puting the lower back on with it and the shifter in foward. what shound i try now?

 

[latin monkey]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

if you are getting the lower unit back in right and you can shift it at the power head then it must be the cable. did you try adjusting it?

 

[latin monkey]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

when you hook the cable to the shifter make sure the control is in the same gear as the shifter/lower unit is in

 

[turtles11756]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

try bringing them together in nuetral

 

[wcsd106]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

I ran into that problem once. To get the driveshaft splines to align with powerhead I had to manually put the lower unit into reverse. Couldn't get the splines to align properly with the shifter in the boat. I pulled it back down being careful to keep the driveshaft in position and rotated the lower unit and shifter to neutral.

From what I can tell forward and reverse both have a range of motion. One spline off and you're not going to work. Neutral has one fixed position and will align much easier.

 

[skipper6567]

Re: shifting problems after replacing waterpump

Its not a cable prob. Ive had this happen on many occations,put the controls in nuetral and the lowere unit in drive. To get that unit in drive you actually have to grab the shift rod with plies and turn countertclockwise,it feels like its springloaded,Just keep trying the alignment of the upper and lower splines,thats the problem no more or less. Its tricky but it will evntually all come together