yamaha outboard gears seized

[steppygas]

Outboard is a Yamaha ft8dmh, four stroke from 2004

Recently gear selector has gone stiff. Normally some judicious waggling has managed to free it up a bit. However last try it was even more stiff resulting in breaking the handle.

Tried to free it up yesterday by greasing through the nipple halfway down the leg. No joy, tried hot water on top of the selector rod and no joys either.

Outboard is in a well and with the prop on is too big to pull thru the hole. So any ideas how to try and fix in situ?

Thanks
Steve

 

[steve66]

That is extremely difficult trying to work inside the well. Unfortunately I would say from experience the engine will need to be worked on on a bench

 

[thinwater]

Pull the prop. 3 minute job. This is a relatively big job and the motor needs to come out.

 

[steppygas]

Hoping that wasn't the case. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet. Needs a mid season scrub anyway.

Any ideas as to what I will need to be looking for cause wise?

 

[fergie_mac66]

Yamahas 5 8 hp have I believe a selector made of a a plastic or nylon type and it gradually swells jamming on its way though the housing check that this is not the issue be disconnecting the lever and then try moveing tge shift mechanism itself .

 

[Daverw]

Had a similar problem and turned out to be the shaft from handle had gone tight, replaced handle, which came with new plain bearing and was good as new, unfortunately had to take power unit off the access

 

[QBhoy]

Have a look 3/4 way down the shaft. Not far above the cavitation plate, there might be a black plastic grommet cap. You might find the problem in there. If not, just pull the gear case off it. You’ll need to get into the above described to do this anyway. Unless the new 4 strokes are different to the yam 2 strokes I’m used to.