Please help me with shift problem

[thyde]

I have no shift on my old (1972) Merc 4.0 horsepower. The lever moves through all three positions but the gear stays in nuetral. I dropped the lower unit and rotated the shift shaft with vice-grips. Same effect. When in the forward gear position I can push in the prop and get the forward gear to engage (the drive shaft rotates). However if turn the drive shaft, the prop does not rotate. I get nothing in neutral (as expected) and I get nothing in reverse. When I drained the lower unit, I got only water, so it may have been run with no lower unit oil for all of last season (1 hour max, it's on a sailboat).

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Please help me with shift problem

If you only got water.. There is a big problem. <br />No oil for any amount of time will cause rust.<br />The inside of the gearcase may be rusted and most likely siezed. Something may have snapped and that is why the driveshaft is free. You need to dismantle the gearcase and see what you can salvage.

 

[thyde]

Re: Please help me with shift problem

Thanks for the "encouraging" diagnosis. <br /><br />I got the prop off and the next thing in is a retaining nut that needs a spanner wrench. Or can I get to the gears from the top (down through the impeller). Any suggestions on where to find the spanner wrench. Also, are there complete rebuilt lower units I can buy anywhere?