Unable to shift without turning prop by hand - NOW WITH VIDEOS

[lonewolf41]

SX-M1 drive (3869337 ser # 4202165914). Just getting ready to try out the new boat but once I shift into gear, I can't get it back in gear without turning the prop by hand. I just refilled the drive after replacing the shift piston seal. I noticed when doing the prop rotation during the pressure and vacuum test that the prop shaft would turn about 180 degrees and then get "stuck". I could turn it back 180 degrees and it would get "stuck" the other way. When the prop was stuck, I could not shift the drive into or out of gear. As long as the prop rotation was between the "stuck" positions, it shifts in and out like butter. When it was in gear, you could turn the drive/input shaft and the prop would turn fine in both forward and reverse. Now that I have it installed, it behaves the same way.

If the prop is moving freely, I can put it in and out of gear just fine. If the prop is stopped to where it is "stuck", I can't get it to shift either way. I can go to the back, turn the prop to where it turns freely and I can move the shifter freely.

Not sure what is causing it or what to do or check.

TIA for any help,
-Keith

 

[bruceb58]

So..it doesn't shift in or out of gear easily with the engine running?

 

[muc]

Is it possible that when you did the shift seal you might have got the shift shoe 180 degrees backwards? Or maybe you lost some of the shims on the adjustment bolt? Did you forget the spring that goes between the shoe and bolt?

 

[lonewolf41]

So..it doesn't shift in or out of gear easily with the engine running?

Surprisingly, no. Well, yes and no. The initial activation is fine, but after that, it isn't. I thought once I got it mounted and running that it would work fine, but it doesn't feel like the control gets back to neutral and I sure can't get it to go back into any gear. Now I can spin the prop by hand a few degrees and it will then easily go into either gear. It seems as if the ease with which the drive shifts is dependent on where the prop is in its rotation.

Hopefully I have explained it well enough to be of some use. I will try and get a video tomorrow showing what it is doing.

Thanks

 

[lonewolf41]

Is it possible that when you did the shift seal you might have got the shift shoe 180 degrees backwards? Or maybe you lost some of the shims on the adjustment bolt? Did you forget the spring that goes between the shoe and bolt?

I thought about that, but I know the spring is there and I don't think I could assemble it if the shoe was backwards. I have a whole other post about the shims here: http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...es/10389176-shimming-the-shift-shoe-stop-bolt

that explains what happened with my new piston.

Thanks.

 

[lonewolf41]

Here is a video showing this in action.

 

[lonewolf41]

One more with engine running.

 

[muc]

STOP!!!!!!!!!!
Please don't have any part of your body near the prop. When engine is running. Better yet follow the manual and remove the prop before starting the engine. I've seen the results of somebody tangling with a spinning prop and it ain't pretty.

Don't know if it's possible to put the shoe in backwards because I've never done it, but the manual takes the time to tell you not to so I assume it can go in backwards. Easy to check.

Read your shimming post. Something is wrong because proper shimming is important. And I've never had one that didn't need some shims. You don't need the special tool, I bought one and don't use it. Just put the shifter 1/2 way between neutral and forward. Been awhile since I've done this job (mostly do MerCruiser now) but if I remember right you turn the input shaft when adjusting shims.

You might want to check the shoe or loosen the adjusting bolt a few turns and see what happens.

 

[lonewolf41]

So in case anyone else searches and has this issue...I did not have the shift bolt in the eccentric piston shimmed enough. Apparently the cone is eccentric so the shift shoe moves in and out during cone/gear rotation. I was measuring it while it was in and that was why I didn't think I needed shims. Have it shimmed correctly now and it shifts great. Now if I could just fix the overheating.

Thanks.