Should I hear shifting?

[Jaynen]

Having some trouble finding the topic I need in the forum so I will just post. I got a 1974 or 1975 Mercury 500 50hp engine and I got it up and running in a garbage pale of water. There is no prop installed at the end and when I get it idleing smooth the water in the garbage can is very turbulant. Is this normal? Next I shift into forward to adjust the carbs but I shift and it seems like nothing happends. Should I hear a click or some sorta movement sound so I know its engaged? Same is with reverse, I shift, it feels smooth, the cable is moving the linkage but no click or shifting sound. Should you hear something? Thanks for any replies!

 

[usskydvr]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

Turbulance in the can is normal as that engine is a thru the prop exhaust. To check to see if it is going into gear (without a prop to observe) take it out of the can and pull the plug wires ( so it won't run) put it into gear and have someone turn it over. Observe the prop shaft. (you can put a piece of tape on it to help)

 

[Jaynen]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

Cool thank you very much I will do that. What will happen in neutral? nothing?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

Final adjustments on the carb should be done with the motor in the water, in gear and a prop on it.

 

[usskydvr]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

The prop may turn slowly in Neutral ( just from hydraulic coupling effect of proximity of gears and fluid viscosity)
bhile is correct in that final adjustment of the carbs must be in the water (not can) with prop on and in Fwd.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

The motor can also overheat in a bucket, too ...

 

[Jaynen]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

Once I know I got forward and reverse, then I am gonna put it in the lake with the prop on and adjust the carb in forward. Just had to do the bucket test to see if the engine was gonna start up. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Jaynen]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

Well put the boat in the water for the first time today and it didnt sink!! Engine started no propblem and shifted into forward no problem. No reverse though, any ideas? All the cables and linkages are good.

 

[usskydvr]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

So I assume that when you look at the prop (when it is in reverse) it is not turning. Have you tried to remove the shift control cable and do the shifting of the shift lever by hand. You should feel definite detents as you go from F to N to R. If you don't then it is time to remove the lower unit and check out the shifting mechanism in it.

 

[Jaynen]

Re: Should I hear shifting?

I did the shifting by hand and deffinatly feel a click for forward and neutral, but reverse has nothing, just feels spring loaded and wants to go back to neutral.