Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

[bever]

1995 Yamaha 150
The symptoms...
I've been the owner for 7 years with no problems. Always routine maintenance.
Worked great last year.
First out this year and would not go into fwd. Just grrrrrrrrind
I disconnected the shift cable and while slowly turning the prop I can easily slide the linkage into fwd but if I apply a little turning force to the prop (while holding the linkage in fwd), it sounds/feels like it's jumping out of gear.
Reverse works fine, however I have to move the lever a bit past neutral to get completely out of rev gear.

I drained the gear oil and it was clean but had a slight milky texture. I use the red gear oil and it was pink. No doubt water.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[yamatech43]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

Replace the cable. When you do, make the final adustments at the motor end, connect to binnacle first then motor, adjusting there in NEUTRAL. Problem is the old cable.

 

[bever]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

yamtech...
cables not the problem. The cables are disconnected. I am moving the linkage with my hand all the way to the stop. In the rev position there is still space before the linkage hits the stop. In the fwd position I am pushing all the way to the stop and the gear do not fully engauge. When I disconnect all the linkage... only left with the shift arm.. I can push the lever further CCW and the gear will engage. The problem is that this position is past the "stop". It's like the shift rod has twisted or something has jumped out of sync....

 

[99yam40]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

Possible the shaft has rusted and bent/twisted, not sure what year they started putting the stainless shafts in

 

[erniefish]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

i am with 99yam40, shift shaft i would bet, should be about the thickness of the insert of a ball point pen, at that diameter it is too weak to turn the shaft

 

[yamatech43]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

I did think about the shaft, but was thinking '95 was first year of stainless...it was '97....however, as that does seem to be the problem here, maybe this will help...there is a company with a neat product for 239 dollars that lets you replace the shift shaft without removing the powerhead and opening that can of worms....it's the 'Shift Shaft'....find it on google....you just drop the lower, cut the old shaft right under the bellypan with a recip. saw and remove, install the 'shift shaft' up into place...basically a two part shaft...pretty cool considering alternative. Sorry, good luck.

 

[bever]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

Makes perfect sense. I removed the LU and the shift shaft stub (on the LU) requires very little rotation to fully engage the gears.
No doubt issue must be with the shaft. It must have twisted slightly. I'll be contacting Shift Shaft Monday morning. Thanks
I'll post the end result.

 

[bever]

Re: Yam 150 Grrrrrrind no shift

yamatech43, 99yam & ernie... You guys hit the nail on the head. I purchased the "Shift Shaft", installed that sucka and all is now good in the kingdom. That was the problem. The shaft was rusted down to the size of #4 finish nail just above the lower coupling and it must have twisted ever so slightly. Other forums were hell bent on replacing the cable. This is no doubt the best help forum. That was the best $240 bucks I spent in a long time. I have pics if someone wants to see them.
Once again the ole 150 is back in action. I am following up on this post as I believe it will assist others.