Can't engage reverse on AQ270 unless leg is completely up

[Murv]

So, boat is finally finished, relaunched, hours of work done, cleaned and polished, ready to go.
Went down to it yesterday to do a bit more cosmetic work until we get some boat handling training done when we get chatting to a really nice guy at the marina who offers to come out with us.
Sun's shining, waters calm, why not? would be nice to actually go out on the thing instead of just slogging over it!

Anyway, long story short, didn't even leave the pontoon because it now won't engage reverse.
The throttle isn't sticking, because when you push the pin in to release the gear cable, it revs smoothly in both directions.
Other weird thing is that with the leg fully up, it does slip smoothly into reverse. As soon as the leg lowers, even a couple of inches, it just will not go in to gear.
Forward gear is fine, with leg up or down.

Option 1) (and the one I like) is to cram the boat full of expired flares and concrete, scuttle it over the wreck of the Montgomery and see how high we can get it to go whilst I laugh manically

Option 2) (probably more likely but not really feeling it at the moment) try and fix the thing and see if it stays working long enough to get just one trip out on it.

Any ideas? Leg is a Volvo AQ270 (the early model) coupled to a 2.5 TDI Lancing marine engine.
Reverse gear has worked perfectly well before, and was working perfectly when the boat was moved the few yards from where it was relaunched a few days ago to its current position.

 

[gordmac]

Have you checked if any of the cables or mechanism have moved or come loose? Adjustment?

 

[Murv]

No, not had chance to do anything with it, it's only jsut gone back in the water after Months on the hardstanding.
That will be the next step, just wondering if anyone had any inkling of the cause from the symptoms

 

[pampas]

f/r cable case to tight to allow radial movement.

 

[oldgit]

Were the gearshift seals replaced ?
Least likely.....The gear shift assembly would have to be taken to bits to get it apart and it is possible to put back together wrongly.
Most likely. Is the drive hard down and latched before you try to engage reverse.??????????
Even more likely.Gear cable is tad out of adjustment.It is vital that the cable is adjusted correctly,and is correctly routed externally down leg only a small amount of play could prevent you engaging either forward or reverse.
Sounds to me that raising/lowering leg is altering physical length of gearshift cable.
Assume that forward and reverse could be selected check was not carried out.
Always used to very briefly start each engine when ashore and check that things were working BEFORE going back in.
It may be possible to adjust without lifting out again .

Have frequently done jobs on outdrives with boat sitting on mud,including adjusting cables and swapping propellers.
Gear shift cover should be easy to remove.

 

[Murv]

Thanks all,
I did intend to check that the gear cables were adjusted properly, but with all the other jobs that needed doing, and all the hassle I had sorting out the oil change I thought "Ah, it'll be fine..."
I also hadn't realised that the gear cable wasn't sealed from the water, I didn't want to start trying to take things apart and lose all the oil. Live & learn!

Plan is, turn it around on the mooring and check the cables when it (briefly) dries out. It must be the adjustment is slightly out because with the leg fully up, it engages absolutely no problem, soon as it drops very slightly, it won't go in. The only thing that's altering there is possible cable tension?
Thanks for the help, fingers crossed. Again.