Question for VicS - Tohatsu 3.5

[sailorman]

my little used 3.5 has a stiff gear selector, which end do i tackle
tia

 

[charles_reed]

my little used 3.5 has a stiff gear selector, which end do i tackle
tia

It's usually the bush at the top of the leg, by the handle - it seems to swell up and jam.

Take out the rubber bung, on the lower leg.behind that you'll find the selector shaft, use that and some penetrating oil to work the handle free.

That jamming and the fuel tanks splitting are the most common Tohatsu 3.5 problems.

PS No I'm not VicS, but I have had tohatsu derivatives since 1982.

 

[jerrytug]

I had the same, I jammed an extension pipe over the gearchange lever which didn't hurt it. Then I had got used to the extra convenience and transferred the pipe to my new Tohatsu anyway

 

[VicS]

my little used 3.5 has a stiff gear selector, which end do i tackle
tia

Its usually corrosion around the the gear lever shaft although dont know if that applies to the Tohatsu

If you cannot waggle the lever a bit that will be the problem.

Free it up, and keep it well lubricated, before you break the lever.

If it does not have a grese nipple at that point look see if it would be possible to fit one

 

[sailorman]

You my man are a star.
still a tad too stiff but much better
Ta

 

[jwilson]

It's usually the bush at the top of the leg, by the handle - it seems to swell up and jam.

Take out the rubber bung, on the lower leg.behind that you'll find the selector shaft, use that and some penetrating oil to work the handle free.

That jamming and the fuel tanks splitting are the most common Tohatsu 3.5 problems.

PS No I'm not VicS, but I have had tohatsu derivatives since 1982.

+1 to the top end lever shaft getting stiff - not too difficult to remove, clean up and grease. Needs doing every couple of years - very well known minor problem with these otherwise excellent simple engines.

 

[sailorman]

+1 to the top end lever shaft getting stiff - not too difficult to remove, clean up and grease. Needs doing every couple of years - very well known minor problem with these otherwise excellent simple engines.

how is the lever removed, i cant see any fixings

 

[jwilson]

Lakesailor hosts manufacturers service diagrams on his site - the mid-section file at http://www.lakelandimages.co.uk/Forum pics/info_engine/Tohatsu/ shows an exploded diagram. From memory you unbolt a couple of brackets, take out a grubscrew and tap out the lever spindle.

 

[sailorman]

Yep thanks easy by the look of it
ta

 

[sailorman]

Up date
i have this morning removed the gear lever, lubed with silicone grease & it working fine
Thanks all for the help
Roger

 

[Georgio]

Useful and timely thread, I was just thinking yesterday evening that my gear selector on my Mercury 3.5 (same engine) is very stiff, I will investigate!

 

[sailorman]

Useful and timely thread, I was just thinking yesterday evening that my gear selector on my Mercury 3.5 (same engine) is very stiff, I will investigate!

a 10 minute job

 

[onesea]

my little used 3.5 has a stiff gear selector, which end do i tackle
tia

My dog knocked mine off many years ago never got round to fixing it.

Did you never have a seagull?