Mercury 4 hp Sailpower outboard.

[Paul Bloomfield]

Hi, I have a mercury sailpower 4 hp engine less than 5-6 years old. The gear shift seems to be stuck in forward drive although will move between reverse, neutral and forward. Any thoughts on what has happened? I did push the lever into reverse unwittingly when high revving! I think something may have sheeted off? Thanks in anticipation .

 

[[2068]]

Start with the basics.

Pop open the rubber circular cover on the side of the lower unit.
There should be two rods joined by a little brass block. Is that secure ... does the rod leading to the gearcase move as well with the shift lever?

These things are pretty robust in normal use ... it's possible that you've damaged the shift cam or the dog clutch in the gearcase, but hopefully not.

 

[VicS]

+1 Start by looking at the clamp between the upper and lower shift rods.

If no movement at that point then the problem is at the top with the connection between the shift lever itself and the vertical shift rod

If the movement is being transmitted OK to the lower shift rod then the trouble is in the gear case.

The clutch dog is positively moved by the shift mechanism, to engage reverse gear but return to neutral and engagement of forward gear is by spring pressure.

You may have damaged the splines on which the clutch dog slides when you engaged reverse at high revs so that is is now jammed preventing the spring returning it to neutral ( or forward). Hopefully a little bit of fetling will sort it out if this is the trouble .

If I am looking at the right model these 3 diagrams show (i) the shift lever and upper shift rod, (ii) the lower shift rod and "cam", (iii) the gears, the clutch dog and associated components

(i) ..... https://cdn.boats.net/MTA/d/5/MTM1NzI5-5bf28ec3.png

(ii).... https://cdn.boats.net/MTA/d/c/MTQwNzMx-c62c77a4.png ( #33 through 41)

(iii) .... https://cdn.boats.net/MTA/d/b/MTUwMDEx-b254ae65.png (#44 through 52)