Mercury Outboard Gearbox Problem

[thomshap]

I have a 60hp Mercury/Mariner outboard on a boat where the throttle/gear lever was too stiff to engage forward after a bit of rummaging I dropped the lower leg and found the gear select inside the leg was fine for reverse but stiff for forward.

Has anyone else experienced this? I guess I need to strip the gear box to find out what is up, is this an easy job? I've done it on a Yamaha 8hp which worked afterwards but this is quite a bit bigger.

 

[VicS]

You dant say what model but you might find the exploded parts diagrams HERE for example helpful.

I suspect the trouble will not be with the sliding dog clutch in the heart of the gear case as forward gear is engaged by the pressure from the return spring. hopefully you'll find the problem is with the shift shaft and cam.

You are sure that the stiffness is not within the linkages at the top of the leg ?


Let us know what you find.

 

[thomshap]

It's this one, 1.83:1 2010 60EFI

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/M...ropeller Shaft - 1.83:1 Gear Ratio/parts.html

When I dropped the lower leg everything runs perfectly, the shift shaft rotates freely to engage reverse but you can feel resistance the other way.

 

[timgriffin]

Sounds like the cable has stretched so is kinking up one way but not the other .
Replace cables ?
Tim.

 

[thomshap]

No, with the gear box off there is a splined gear selector that pokes out in front of the drive shaft, that's the bit that stiff.

 

[thomshap]

Bent gear selector rod that goes to the back of the prop shaft, now quite sure how it got bent as the leg ahead never been taken off since it was new.

 

[VicS]

Bent gear selector rod that goes to the back of the prop shaft, now quite sure how it got bent as the leg ahead never been taken off since it was new.

Hopefully no other damage. The worst would be if the engine had hit an obstruction and the leg was distorted and the main drive shaft bent. That could eventually lead to drive shaft failure.

 

[z1ppy]

Ok, I'm trying to remember not but my first boat had a 50hp Yamaha and I had the same problem. Difficult to get into gear. Took it to fairweather marine who diagnosed bent gear rod and route cause was I think a broken top mount allowing movement to bend the rod...

 

[timgriffin]

Glad you got it sorted, had gear cable snap on me last week while teaching reverse on the school rib ooops no cables in stock until next week typical.
Boats eh!
Tim