10 HP Evinrude tiller gears don't mesh

[jonathanwsmith]

Noticed tiller handle gears not meshing (as shown in pic) Removed handle, examined gears and shaft. Reseated gears, made sure they aligned, made sure metal washer was outside (as shown in pic). Reinstalling tiller. Advanced handle. Gears came unmeshed. Any ideas what's happened and how to fix it. Thanks, Jonathan Smith

 

[fhhuber]

Wear and/or miss-assembly.
Push in toward the engine on the tiller (throttle), If that engages it you need to add a spacer/washer to keep it back. Might need to push the engine side of the gears out too... see how much that will move in and out.

It may take some fiddling to get it spaced properly. But even if its wear you should be able to cure it.

 

[F_R]

No Title

Item #23, flanged bushing, normally sets the gears position. Check to see if it looks "normal".

 

[Stumpalump]

They un mesh when the tiller is folded up and remesh when down.

 

[jonathanwsmith]

Thanks guys for your responses, and for the page showing the part. Discovered the bushing, a fabric composite, had deteriorated. I borrowed an entire tiller handle assembly from my 5.5 Sea Horse, and it fit perfectly in the 10. That these old workhorses are so interchangeable and so simple to work on is one of the things that makes them so amazing.