Re-installed Lower Unit-No shifting

[cucklebur]

I took off my lower unit from my 97 Force 120 and rebuilt the water pump. I followed the manual and shifted into forward before removing. However, after re-installing the lower unit and cranking the prop turns only in a forward motion whether I shift to neutral or reverse. The splines on the shifter shaft appear to be aligning but its hard to know for sure once you start to tighten the bolts. Is there a trick to getting the shifter s plines to marry with the adapteror do you have to readjust the shift linkage everytime you pull off the lower unit?

thanks!

 

[bowhuntrrl]

Re: Re-installed Lower Unit-No shifting

I've been trying to get the answer to this question for over a week !!! I too rebuilt the water pump on my 50 and now have problems adjusting the shifter rod/coupling.Seems like nobody knows or if they do, they won't tell .

 

[cucklebur]

Re: Re-installed Lower Unit-No shifting

I got it to work by shifting the lower unit to reverse and shifting the controls to reverse. The splines still didn't want to marry in the shift adapter so I wiggled the controls and it finally popped in. It seems to be working fine now. Shifts from reverse to neutral to forward and back on demand.