Lower unit won't go in reverse

[coop57]

1982 75hp with a 1977 lower unit long shaft have set the 4 1/8 linkage length,
did not know to set the shift rod to length but it shifted after I installed this unit last summer (although hard into reverse.)
Now this year I launch and it will not go into reverse unless I push the linkage back by hand.

Cable?
Shift rod setting?
Something else?

 

[coop57]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

Ok I pulled the lower unit off (1977) I removed the shift rod and compared to the (1982) shift rod and it is 1/4 shorter at the bolt hole. I am thinking this is why I cant adjust for a consistant shift.
I know the lowers are basicaly the same from 1975 - 1989 but do the shift rods vary?
Any insght would be appreciated.
I plan to swap shift rods as soon as I get gaskets.

 

[coop57]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

Also do you need to seal the lower unit to the mid section?
What product do you use?

 

[noelm]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

no seal between the gearcase and the mid section, just a metal to metal fit. Let us know if the shift shaft length fixes the problem, can you shift into reverse manually at the motor gear lever with no cable connected??

 

[coop57]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

no seal between the gearcase and the mid section, just a metal to metal fit. Let us know if the shift shaft length fixes the problem, can you shift into reverse manually at the motor gear lever with no cable connected??

Yes it shifts by hand, my manual calls for 3M 458 gasket/adheasive between the lower and the mid.

I have never sealed here either, always metal to metal but the factory manual calls for 3m adheasive.

Just wondering if it is nessesary?

Thanks for the reply.

 

[coop57]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

The shift rod length was the problem!
The 82 rod was almost 1/2" longer than the 77 rod swapped them and now I have reverse back.

 

[noelm]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

glad you fixed it, but it seems strange how the adjustment could do that, it should only make a slight difference to the position of the gear lever on the motor, and the cable adjustment would take care of a difference to that, I have trouble with my motors at the moment, and might remove the lower unit and check the measurement, I never have been able to fix it yet.

 

[coop57]

Re: Lower unit won't go in reverse

The rod setting for my 1982 calls for 21 + 23/32 inches from the face of the casing to the hole in the rod while in neutral.

The older rod was about 1/2" short and caused the cable linkage to lean away from the cable aprox. 3/4" from where it is with the correct rod.
This caused the cable to run out of travel before making reverse no matter how the cable was adjusted.

Thankfully an easy fix.