Chrysler 55 hp

[tommydc]

I have a 1978 Chrysler 55 HP, model # 559H8K, and I recently replaced the impeller & seals in the lower unit. I now have a problem shifting into forward. Shifts into reverse easily but just barely goes into forward and pops out of gear when cruising... Do I need to drop the lower unit & disconnect the linkage and adjust there or is there another point of adjustment? Also, if I adjust at the lower linkage, how many turns can I turn the linkage without being concerned of turning it too far? Thanks for your help...

 

[aussiemik]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

gday mate had the same problem with my motor has got a worn surface on the selector and the foward gear selecting face both are a bit rounded off causing them to slip under load so i turned the selector around and seems to work fine , was going to swap foward &reverse gears but need to press off front bearing will probably replace later but has done the job fine for now.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

Do you have a clymer manual. Adjustments are on page 351. Remove the starboard support plate. Remove tand discard the cotter pin from the gear shif pin. Remove the gear shift pin. Shift motor into forward. The lower shif rod should travel downward as far as it will go. Loosen the locknut under the shift rod coupler. Adjust coupler until the shift pin hole is 1.38in (35mm) above the steering arm. See fig 83

Reinstall the gear shif pin and secure with a new cotter pin. Shift the motoro into neutral. Check the position of the shift arm. It should be centered on the neutral interlock switch. See fig 84. If not loosen the shift cable connector locknut and adjust the connector as required then tighten the locknut. Disconnect the shfit arm link. Shift into forward. Loosen teh locknut on the shift arm link and adjust the link connector until it aligns with the shift armpin. See fig 85

 

[tommydc]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

I do not have a manual; the diagram helps.. thank you very much.. I'll let you know how it turns out...

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

Your motor is actually 1978. The clutch switch out is at best a short term solution. Best thing to do if the clutch and forward gear dogs are worn is to take them to a machine shop and have them grind new faces on them. Probably about 50 bucks to have it done and the gears will be like brand new. Reversing the clutch will just wear the clutch dogs down faster because the forward gear dogs are already worn.

 

[tommydc]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

Thanks for the help; I removed both sides of motor cover to access cotter pin; couldn't measure exactly 1.38" so I chose trial and error. I turned the adjustement head 1 turn. goes in okay and stays in gear but it does go into rev easier than forward. thanks again...

 

[aussiemik]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

i done the adjustment thing and seemed fine till i got on the water,under load it kept jumping out. do you mean the three faces of the dog &foward gear need machining, will mine still wear even though its not slipping even under full power?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

Even if both surfaces are perfectly machined or new they eventually wear. If the forward dogs are worn where the lead edges are rounded they will wear the clutch dogs a lot faster then if they are not worn. If it were me I would wait till the season is over then take them out and have them machined during the winter. It can be done with a dremel but you want to make sure you take the same amount off of each face on both the clutch and the gear. Machine shops use much tighter tolerences then you can do with a dremel. I did mine with a dremel three years ago and it is still holding.

 

[aussiemik]

Re: Chrysler 55 hp

hi eurolarva yes i will replace these parts as soon as i can source some good second hand ones at the moment its got me on the water . my skills with the dremel are not good enough to take that on. i was going to swap foward & reverse gears around but that meant changing bearings so i thought i would just try the selector and it was fine keeping fingers crossed till i find new parts