Yamaha 5hp - can’t select reverse any longer?

[Tim Good]

Yamaha 5hp 2 stroke 6MO88 (2000)

Problem:
In neutral it is in forward gear and in reverse it is neutral. Therefore I have no way of selecting reverse any longer.

More info:
The other day when I started the outboard I had the runs a little high and just after starting it jumped into gear by itself and lurched forward. After which now when in neutral the outboard is in forward gear but when in reverse it is a neutral. Needless to say when it is in forward gear it is also in forward gear.

 

[VicS]

You dont say what year model but I suspect the clamp ( #38 and #39) that links the upper and lower shift rods is not properly tight and that they have moved relative to each other.

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[Tim Good]

You dont say what year model but I suspect the clamp ( #38 and #39) that links the upper and lower shift rods is not properly tight and that they have moved relative to each other.


View attachment 113396

View attachment 113397​

Hmm yeah makes sense. I thinks it’s a 5C year 2000.

 

[VicS]

Hmm yeah makes sense. I thinks it’s a 5C year 2000.

It does not look as though they changed much over the years

That clamp should be accessible by removing the rubber plug #9 in this diagram

 

[CFG98]

I can confirm that the above info fixed my gear shifting probs on same engine. Easy to access and adjust through the rubber bung.

 

[Tim Good]

I can confirm that the above info fixed my gear shifting probs on same engine. Easy to access and adjust through the rubber bung.

It does not look as though they changed much over the years

That clamp should be accessible by removing the rubber plug #9 in this diagram

arrrr you just answered my next question! I had a look and thought it Was going to be a nightmare!

 

[ip485]

I think mine is essentially the same - albeit a two stroke.

My issue is the lever movement is very stiff. I am not sure how stiff mind you it should be, but to change from forward to neutral to reverse it requires a reasonable amount of pressure (and without being sexist, an amount most girls would not find easy!).

I understand this is quite a common problem and is likely to be to do with the clamp in the first diagram. There is a grease nipple directly under this. I have tried some grease and it has definitely made it a bit better. I seem to recall reading somewhere there is a nylon bush that can expand.

I havent got as far as working out if this part can be disambeled and cleaned without taking out the whole engine or maybe there are better solutions.

Sorry to slightly highjack the thread but with some very knowleadgeable people around I hope it is roughly on the same theme

 

[ip485]

Northcave PS I would also be very interested in how easy your shift is please?

 

[VicS]

I think mine is essentially the same - albeit a two stroke.

My issue is the lever movement is very stiff. I am not sure how stiff mind you it should be, but to change from forward to neutral to reverse it requires a reasonable amount of pressure (and without being sexist, an amount most girls would not find easy!).

I understand this is quite a common problem and is likely to be to do with the clamp in the first diagram. There is a grease nipple directly under this. I have tried some grease and it has definitely made it a bit better. I seem to recall reading somewhere there is a nylon bush that can expand.

I havent got as far as working out if this part can be disambeled and cleaned without taking out the whole engine or maybe there are better solutions.

Sorry to slightly highjack the thread but with some very knowleadgeable people around I hope it is roughly on the same theme

This is most likely due to tightness where the shaft of the shift lever passes through the top of the casing. If this is the case fix it before you break it

It may be caused by corrosion of the aluminium especially if the shift lever is stainless steel or by swelling of the plastic when it's plastic

It does not look as though there is any easy way of accessing the linkage inside, without removing the power head, in order to release the shift lever on this engine ( some have a small plate that can be removed)

 

[john_q]

I have a 4HP YAM 2 stroke and have found, over time, when the engine is has been run for a while and is hot, hotthe plastic gearshift lever swells in the housing under the power head, the solution is to either fit a new gearshift or remove the exiting one and gently remove some plastic until it moves more freely. There is a greasing point there as well and I am trying to rememeber to grease it more often. The gearshift should move easily with a little click as it goes into gear

 

[Tim Good]

Northcave PS I would also be very interested in how easy your shift is please?

Mine is a 2 stroke also and it is very easy to shift. That said I had an issue on my Mercury 4 stroke which slowly became really hard to shift! It was the main bar that went from the handle through which I believe had become corroded and what not. I ended up having it done by an engineer as it was fairly cheap to do so I just left it with him.

Basically what VicS Said. Generally whatever he says is usually right I find.

It may be caused by corrosion of the aluminium especially if the shift lever is stainless steel or by swelling of the plastic when it's plastic