forward/reverse

[michaelf1]

i have the usual (bmw marine) forward/reverse lever with a pin to push in for neutral. The pin is not popping out as it should. i have tried lubricants, and access from the inside is not straightforward - any suggestions for a remedy please?

 

[alec]

Good question. I would like to know as well.

At the moment, I tap it lightly with a hammer from the other side.

Good tool the old hammer.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Not that I have had a problem with mine, but I would imagine there is a spring under compression that has somehow dislodged or is too weak. Does this mean you can't get her into gear, if the shift is going into gear then something has snapped rather than the button not popping up, if you see my thinking.

 

[pvb]

The neutral button on my Volvo lever got very sticky. I sprayed quite a lot of "dry lube" lubricant into it, and a lot of muck came out. Problem didn't entirely go away, and I realised the red plastic moulded cover on the button had degraded with UV so I removed it, leaving just the brass button. Works fine now.

 

[MoodySabre]

I recall reading an article in either PBO or ST in the past year or so (that copy no longer held) of how to strip down the lever and replace the spring. It was a long and complicated task done on a bench as the lever isn't designed to come apart. I'm fairly practical but I thought that I'd rather buy a new one! My previous boat had a new lever that was easy to take apart and get to the spring from the front. Older ones seem not to be built with repairs in mind.

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
My previous boat had a new lever that was easy to take apart and get to the spring from the front. Older ones seem not to be built with repairs in mind.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not often you hear it that way round!

 

[tobble]

[ QUOTE ]
The neutral button on my Volvo lever got very sticky. I sprayed quite a lot of "dry lube" lubricant into it, and a lot of muck came out. Problem didn't entirely go away, and I realised the red plastic moulded cover on the button had degraded with UV so I removed it, leaving just the brass button. Works fine now.

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto with my Yanmar

 

[wiggy]

Just sorted mine out after 4 years of faffing around, culminated with awkward situation when engine would not come out of neutral. I sorted it by spraying nearly a whole can of WD40 from the front into the button, whilst pushing it in and out, at first it made no difference at all but I just kept spraying and after a while lots of rusty muck came out with lots of particulates. I kept going untill run off was clear, its now like new.

 

[alec]

[ QUOTE ]
Just sorted mine out after 4 years of faffing around, culminated with awkward situation when engine would not come out of neutral. I sorted it by spraying nearly a whole can of WD40 from the front into the button, whilst pushing it in and out, at first it made no difference at all but I just kept spraying and after a while lots of rusty muck came out with lots of particulates. I kept going untill run off was clear, its now like new.

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazing !

Just done the very same thing myself today. Have used loads of WD40 but still getting loads of 'rusty muck'. Where is it all coming from in such a small space ? .

Will carry on tomorrow but it's popping out fine already.

 

[michaelf1]

thanks for your responses. copious amounts of wd40 pushed out some rusty muck, and its currently performing sweetly. i wish id invented that wd40 stuff...