68 rude {electric shift} pulling gear box

[Dennyps]

Hey All, 68 evinrude 55 horse outboard model #55873R {electric shift} I have done all of the test's suggested by the sages here on Iboat for my lower leg gear box and have come up with no neutral and no reverse. {direct 12 vlt power to the green and green/blue wires, up from the leg motor running etc.} I am new to boat motors and am a little nervous about opening up the lower leg. The manual is helpful for sure but not really very descriptive in the R & R of the gear case, meaning no pic's, no diagrams. I think the thing that worry's me most is that the condition I found the ignition system in {coil wire to #2, #3 wire to #1 etc.} if the guy who last opened up the leg is the same guy who did the last tune up on this and he did not put something back together right, how am I going to know if it's right or not? Any last minute advice on procedure's from anyone that has done repairs on one of these would be appreciated? Thanks in advance, Denny

 

[Franki]

Re: 68 rude {electric shift} pulling gear box

Hi Denny..<br /><br />you may not have to strip the leg..<br /><br />just drop it off the OB, and at the front of the gearcase infront of the water pump is a panel with four bolts (with the two wires coming out of it, take that off first, you should be able to lift the two soleniods out with the cover plate..<br /><br />then you can check each one by powering it and seeing if it becomes magnetic.<br /><br />check the condition of the wiring too, thats what was wrong with mine.<br /><br />Also, while you have that cover off, drain the foot and fill it with premix.. I spun mine with a cordless drill for a while to stir the premix around and hopefully clean some gunk off the pump inside.. it worked for me.. then reassemble it all and try it.. (I tested it before putting the case back on the OB by using the cordless drill again, put power to the soleniods, and then start the drill, it wont' work till the drive shaft is spinning reasonably fast, (oil pump needs pressure.) but from that point, if all went well, you should be able to engage neutral and reverse,, if it works, you can reassemble.<br /><br />I had the same problem as you and this fixed it for me.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Frank<br /><br />Ps, in the archives, there is some more details with a couple of pictures from when I did it.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />frank

 

[Dennyps]

Re: 68 rude {electric shift} pulling gear box

Hey Frankie, thanks so much for your advice! I assume you mean by the "OB" you mean the bottom half of the outboard or motor, right? On mine there are 4 bolts on the very bottom half of the last section on my OB I will start by pulling these and look for the panal you suggested. Thanks again, Denny