unusual problem with no reverse

[Fishermark]

I have an old 1972 Searay with an inline six 165 Mercruiser. A couple of years ago I replaced the original drive with a Sterndrive Engineering SE106. I have had this drive on for a couple of years and it has worked fine till now. Recently I have been having problems shifting - in fact I had a post a short while back about adjusting the shift interrupt switch. It has begun stalling when shifting out of gear (reverse especially). So I figured it was time for a new shift cable.

This is where it gets odd.

I pulled the drive and decided to go ahead and put an impeller in while I had it off. Before pulling shift cable I checked it and discovered that it was routed wrong - after rerouting it seemed to move smoothly, so I went ahead and reinstalled the drive to check it before getting new cable.

I installed the outdrive back on the boat, but now have no reverse.

Even when I disconnect the shift cable and pull on the cable by hand, it will not go into reverse. Spinning the prop clockwise it ALMOST seems to want to catch, but does not. Goes into forward with no problem, prop locks counter clockwise. Cable operates smoothly.

When I pull the outdrive off the boat, it will shift into both forward and reverse with no problems.

My first thought was that I had the intermediate shift shaft off by a tooth. I pull the drive off again and put the drive in forward and the shift shaft is pointing straight ahead. It is dead on at the straight 12:00 position.

I double checked the shift cable slide and cavity. No obstructions there. The cable pulls smoothly all the way in.

Reinstall the drive. Same thing. No reverse. It seems that the shift shoe will not turn far enough to get the unit to go into reverse. It is CLOSE - but not quite there.

Any suggestions?? I'm sure if I move the shift shaft over a tooth that it will be too far off of straight ahead to install the drive.

I'm stumped!

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Still sounds like the lower shift cable may be bad and it is not adjusted correctly.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

If it is not going into reverse it indicates that the slide is not pulling the upper shift shaft arm far enough forward. I wonder if the upper shift shaft arm is worn or bent so that there is enough play that it will not go into gear. Maybe the upper shift shaft bushings worn or maybe the little wheel on the end. Don't think you can be off by a spline and still shift, and the slide seems to be engaging the arm OK. Just speculating here.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Just speculating here.

Speculating is fine and is appreciated!

The shift shaft arm and roller are both in good shape.

I remembered the washer under the intermediate shift shaft.

The shaft mates in the shoe with no binding.

The cable pulls the shift cable slide all the way in to the back of the housing with no problems. With the outdrive off in fact, I can look underneath and see that it will pull the shoe all the way till it hits the casting on the bell housing.

It isn't a cable adjustment issue as I cannot get it into reverse when I manually pull the cable all the way out.

 

[Don S]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Click Here for the troubleshooting section of manual #6 on page 38 there are tests you can do to check for excessive play. Not only in the cables, but the drive itself. There is a gauge on the last page for checking the drive.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

With the outdrive off in fact, I can look underneath and see that it will pull the shoe all the way till it hits the casting on the bell housing.

When you have eliminated all of the possible (you have) causes, that you are left with the improbable. Seems your problem must be between the little wheel on the uss arm and the top of the intermediate ss in the upper housing. Could be: arm bent, pin on arm loose or bent, upper shaft twisted (unlikely), shoe on bottom of upper shaft twisted (could be) top of intermediate ss twisted. Still speculating.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Thanks Don - in doing more reading I was beginning to suspect the shift spool. I will check the measurements of movement and post the results.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Terry - not to leave you out on the thanks! We were posting at the same time.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

I was beginning to suspect the shift spool. I will check the measurements of movement and post the results.

Hope that is not it. Will SEI warranty cover it? Do you have to send it back??

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Yes - it should be covered by SEI's warranty. In fact, I did some searching in their forum and their response to similar issues is the same - call the warranty dept and have it taken care of.

 

[Don S]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

In fact, I did some searching in their forum and their response to similar issues is the same - call the warranty dept and have it taken care of.

BUT !!!!!!! If the shift spool is good, you now get to pay for a lot of freight.
I would sure do the angle tests and tell the warranty department what you found before sending it back.
I would still bet money on shift cable problems before a shift spool problem. Unless SEI has a problem with the shift spools.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Well, I did the test and it shows about 13 degrees of play in the shift shaft. Does that sound like a worn shift spool?

I posted a video - in fact, I "killed two birds with one stone" so to speak, as I am experimenting with posting videos.

Anyway.... Click here to see the results of the test

 

[Don S]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Give SEI a call and email, and a link to the test. Then the ball is in their court.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

Quick follow up - replaced the shift cable and shift arm. Installed new style upper shift shaft bushings. Everything is as smooth as silk.... but still no reverse.

Took the lower unit to Sterndrive Engineering on Monday, July 12 - got there right before they closed, (they are local for me) - they just called and said the unit is ready. They replaced the gears and bearings - even put in a new water pump. (Even though I just installed a new impeller). I will post the results when I get it all back together.

I must say - this is a great company to work with. Very nice with no hassles at all. Great customer service! Kudos to them.

(Now as long as everything works when I get it back together...... Stay tuned! ).



new style bushings installed:

New shift arm and cable: (By the way - I finally decided to buy one of the plastic tools from quicksilver that holds the shift slide in place while you install the outdrive. Great little gadget! It's the orange thing in the pic below).

 

[Fishermark]

Re: unusual problem with no reverse

SUCCESS!

It's funny how easy things are when everything works as it is supposed to.

Installed the newly rebuilt lower unit and everything shifts perfectly.

Again - can't say enough about the great customer service from Sterndrive Engineering. Not a single hassle working with them and their warranty repair.

Great reminder to anyone with a shifting problem they cannot solve. Do the test mentioned above to help isolate whether the problem lies in the outdrive or somewhere in the shift cable, etc.