Shifting at high rpm

[vildric]

Hi!

I have a brand new mercury 3.5 4 stroke. This is my first motor and I used it for the first time today.

Like a total newbies, I tough that the "start" position was only to start and so after I put it at like 1/4 throttle.

So I warm it up for the first time ever at high rpm (1/4 throttle) and then I shifted from neutral to forward a couple of time from high rpm (around like 1200rpm) causing a "knock" hard neutral/forward shifting.

However, the engine was running very well and after like 3-4 times this error, I realized and stopped to do it.

Do you think I hurted my new outboard ?

Thanks!

 

[gordmac]

Wouldn't think you will have done it any real harm.

 

[jfm]

It will be fine. You are engaging dogs not gears (the gears are permanently meshed) and there is a rubber bush in the prop to cushion the inertia of the prop

 

[boatmike]

It will be fine. You are engaging dogs not gears (the gears are permanently meshed) and there is a rubber bush in the prop to cushion the inertia of the prop

That is absolutely true but it is advisable to throttle back before changing as in time you will knock the corners off the dogs if you don't. You will always get a bit of a "clunk" when changing anyway whatever speed you are running at but it's kind to take the load off before changing. You won't have done any damage though, they are pretty robust.....