1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

[satman93637]

I recently bought a 68 merc 1000. Took it out this weekend and had trouble getting reverse first day. Second day it seemed to slip out of gear when trying to accelerate. Any ideas?

 

[Laddies]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

You may have a linkage problem, but those engines are spring loaded to fwd so you are likely to have a bad clutch dog and gear. Very expencive to replace but we get them recut all the time and it works well

 

[satman93637]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

Well I know just about nothing about outboards. I just order a repair manual. Figured that was a good place to start. No idea what a clutch dog is but sounds like its time to learn. I know I was quoted $2500 for a rebuilt lower end. Not sure if thats what I need or not.

 

[tengals123]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

$2500 for a rebuild lower end, are you kidding?????<br /><br />or did you mean $250.00

 

[satman93637]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

I wish I was kidding. But thats what they quoted me. That was with a 1 year warranty. I almost cryed.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

You can get lower units on Ebay for #200 - $400 clams.<br /><br />-W

 

[satman93637]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

I did find one on there but its starting to look like its just a cable or linkage problem. Atleast I hope.

 

[satman7475]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

satman93637, sorry to here your problems. these guys know what their talking about, too bad i didnt find this wed site early, same thing happend to me with a johnson 150, and actally paid the man 2600 for a rebuild lower unit. good luck on finding a lower unit on ebay.but off the wall question do you do satellite work too? just saw your screen name satman, mine too, been putting then in to long 7 years, just good to see a member with the same profession, anyhow good luck.

 

[satman93637]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

Yes I am a satellite installer. Or atleast I was. Work has been very slow lately. As far as the problem goes it is a spun prop. Now trying to find out where or if i can get a new one.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: 1968 merc 1000 wont stay in gear at high rpm

Before you worry yourself to death that the lower unit is bad, disconnect the shift cable and shift it into gear by hand and see if the problems stil exists. Did you adjust the reverse after the first day? You may have went to far towards reverse. Another thing that will give the impression of slipping gears is cavitation. try to lower your motor down one hole. I had all the same systoms as yours on my 68 Merc 1000. At wot it would sound like it would slip out of gear and rev really high then grab and go back to normal. I had the motor sitting to high out of the water(One hole on the adjustment solved the problem). I also thought the reverse clutch was bad, It would pop, grind and slip when I put into reverse. The cable just needed adjusted. From experience take some extra nylock nuts to fit the shift arms and cable with you. This has to be done on the water and you will drop one of those small nuts in the drink.