No forward gear :(

[paperdesk]

Hi! I have a 135hp 1973 Evinrude. I just lost the forward gear, but reverse works just fine. Any ideas what might be the problem?

It sounded like something slipped a couple times, then felt like it was trying to catch, but just not quite making it into gear. I can go forward slowly, but can tell it's not fully engaged.

Could this possibly be linkage rather than the lower unit? Please say yes

Ted

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: No forward gear

I wonder if your prop has a spun hub. Weeds can do that too.

I'd have a look at the gearlube as well.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

Hi Willy,

Actually the prop came off when this happened. I hoped that was it, but after I replaced the prob it was the same. Maybe the splines are bad on the shaft?

 

[OBJ]

Re: No forward gear

Try disconnecting the shift cable and shifting the engine to forward manually. Maybe the problem is in the control cables or control.

 

[papasage]

Re: No forward gear

is that a eletric shift or hydr eletric

 

[OBJ]

Re: No forward gear

It's mechanical papa but has the assist piston in it. These are the ones with the reverse throw on the shift lever.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

Yes that's right, OBJ. When I remove the engine cover and have someone shift into gear I can see it moving down. I tried adjusting the cables but it didn't seem to make any difference at all which is really strange since usually that does make quite a difference.

 

[OBJ]

Re: No forward gear

Might want to check the gear lube for metal shards or a bunch of sparklers. Could be the dog lobes are just worn over that much. Wonder if the shift piston may have blown an oring? Really havn't had that much experience with these shift types. So I'm punching holes in the dark.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

I'll try removing the cable completely and see if that works.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

Guess I'll have to mess with it more tomorrow, too many mosquitos! I'll have a look at the fluid/magnet on the drain plug.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

Guess I'm still in the dark. I pulled the lower unit, checked all linkage and it seems fine. However, when I put it in the water it's the same problem. I'm having a hard time finding the long nose snap ring pliers to get the lower unit open. Any repair ideas or know where to get those pliers?

 

[ezeke]

Re: No forward gear

I never heard how we eliminated the spun prop possibility. Could someone elaborate for the rest of us.

 

[dsinger]

Re: No forward gear

Snap ring pliers can be found at Harbor Freight or I found them at a large whole sale place for $9.00 Steve's Wholesale Tools. I fyou go to Matco about $100.00 Snap On will be more. You might also try an automotive parts store local they some times wil have them for rent. NAPA is $85.00 to buy.

Last time I messed with a problem like this the clutch dog chipped a tooth. Then rounded the catch ends of the forward gear and started slipping.

 

[dsinger]

Re: No forward gear

Ezeke will a spun prop jump in and out of gear. I though if the prop was spun it would never get back into gear even with out a load but I could be wrong.

 

[ezeke]

Re: No forward gear

A spun prop can feel like that, so can cavitation. If the prop is spun it will get worse until it won't hold at all.

It does not have anything to do with gears, though, just heat and pressure on the hub of the prop.

The original description by paperdesk sounded like a spun prop and I thought that WillyBWright was right about that.

BTW, I have not read anything yet that changed my mind.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

I guess it really could be a spun prop, even though it's a "new" used prop I got from a local boat shop. In the throttle I can feel a vibration "like" gears are grinding/slipping. Sounds horrible like it's tearing out the gears. I'll check out the prop theory/try to borrow another prop.

Thanks for the tip on snapring pliers. I'll check that out.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

I replaced the gear lube, and it looked good. There were some metal shaving on the magnet though.

 

[ezeke]

Re: No forward gear

If it is grinding it is not the prop. Also I failed to understand that you had switched props. Did you hit something?

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

I don't think it hit anything, but some others did run the boat for me, so it's possible. It slipped a few times, like a skipped tooth or something, then right away got to it's current condition.

 

[paperdesk]

Re: No forward gear

A friend of mine has an older Mercury 110hp motor he let me try out since my 135 seems to be having a lot of issues. However I'm having trouble with that one too. It worked great on the boat it came off of, but won't push mine worth anything. I'm trying to follow the forum rules here so I posted in the Mercury forum: http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=29;gtid=1131213;gpid=1131886#gpid1131886

We'll see what happens I guess. If I can't make that one work for me I'll be back to fixing the 'rude.

Ted