‘70s mercury 80hp Reverse lock cam orientation

[Jmac44]

New guy with new guy problems. When doing a lower unit seal/impeller change, I removed the reverse lock cam and now I have no idea how it should go back on. I’ve tried a couple different things, but it doesn’t seem like I can shift my lower unit into reverse even if I rotate the prop while I try. If it helps, my serial number is 5480528. Any advice here? Thanks!

Jake

 

[Texasmark]

Yes on rotating the prop if the engine is off and you choose to shift into R. If you did not have your remote control and shift shaft sticking out of the LU lined up for the same gear when reinstalling you will have a problem such as you are having. I like N gear because there is no doubt where the remote control is sitting and on twisting the ⅜" splined shifter shaft sticking out of the top front of the LU there is F on one side of N where you can turn the prop and check for engagement, and R on the other side of N and check for engagement and put it in N where the prop freewheels.

 

[Jmac44]

So the problem I’m having now is the plastic reverse lock cam. My lower unit seems to automatically spring into F gear every time I touch the prop. I don’t know how to orient the plastic cam on the lower shift shaft to ensure proper shifting. I’ve got to rebuild the carburetors before I can get the engine running but I should be able to check proper shifting easier once the engine is running. I would upload a picture but I haven’t figured out how to compress them enough to allow for upload on this forum.

 

[Chris1956]

The motor should lock down when if F or N. So, set the reverse lock cam to push lock rod up most in F.

 

[Texasmark]

Sorry about that folks. I know what you are talking about now and it isn't what I was talking about. Been many many years since I had an engine without PTT which doesn't have the lock you mention.