1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

[Bob1944]

This engine will not shift out of gear. I don't know what gear it is in. However, I disconnected the shift leads at the back of the engine. I get 12 volts when I push the reverse button on both leads from the control box. I get nothing from either lead when it is shifted into forward. I am thinking the short or problem is in the shift box. What does your wisdom suggest?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Shift switch is shot. Or you have the wrong shift switch. Or the wiring is shot.

12 volts on both leads scares me. That will cause it to go into both forward and reverse at the same time. At the very least, that will cause it to lock up. The other extreme is that it will bust a clutch spring in the lower unit or twist off the drive shaft.

It may have already broken a clutch spring, making sense of why it is stuck in gear (whichever one is not broken).

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Dang. I paid 50 bucks for that switch. No way to fix it?

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

it's the wrong switch. on the older models they defaulted to neutral. no power to either wire gives you nuetral. power to one wire gives your forward and power to the other wire gives you reverse. the newer ones defaulted to forward so power to one gave you one gear and power to both gave you another. there will be two leads coming from the lu into the engine compartment. take them loose from the harness. with 12 v to one the prop should lock in one direction. (no need to have the motor running) with power to the other the prop should lock in the other direction. If it does not then there is a problem in the lower unit.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

super, thank you so much!

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

I misspoke on the newer ones no power gave you forward gear. power to one gave neutral I think and power to both gave reverse. doesn't matter as you have one of the wrong switches. the nice thing is yours can be fixed with a dpdt switch. hot to the center your forward wire to the poll in the forward position and the reverse wire to the pole in the reverse position. you lose the neutral safety in the switch so it will start in gear.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Wrong switch. 12 volts to one wire is forward, 12 volts to the other wire is reverse. Never power both at once.

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

OK, I did the positive test and the blue wire stops immediately. the green wire goes around sluggishly a couple times then stops.

I am not understanding exactly your instructions for a fix. Maybe explain in land lubber terms?

thanks for your help.
bob

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

I misspoke on the newer ones no power gave you forward gear. power to one gave neutral I think and power to both gave reverse. doesn't matter as you have one of the wrong switches. the nice thing is yours can be fixed with a dpdt switch. hot to the center your forward wire to the poll in the forward position and the reverse wire to the pole in the reverse position. you lose the neutral safety in the switch so it will start in gear.

Could a guy just have two switches on the dash, one for forward and one for reverse and when they are both off, it is in neutral?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Could a guy just have two switches on the dash, one for forward and one for reverse and when they are both off, it is in neutral?

You could, but then you could still have both on, which would be bad.

The best idea is the original switch, that has safety lock-outs to prevent bad things from happening.
That said, another way is to have a single Single Pole, Double Throw (SPDT) switch. Center would be Neutral, One position would be Fwd, the other would be Reverse. The warnings:
You can start the motor in gear. Bad
You can start the motor in gear, at full throttle. Very bad
You can shift into neutral when running at full throttle. Extremely bad.
You can shift into REVERSE when running forward at full throttle. You could be dead.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Any possibility that you have the wrong control box for the motor? The indications that you are getting suggests a hydro electric control box to me. It does not work the same way as the right one for your motor.

Confusing the two controls is especially easy if what you have is an Evinrude control, because the one for the hydro electric and the "selectric" units look similar.

 

[hawk_surfs]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

hey man ive gota 72 85hp electric shift. mine has solenoids in the foot that control forward reverse and neutral. dunno if it helps but if u got em drop the gearcase n open up the housing. hope i helped

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

The shift system in your 1972 85hp is hydro electric, not selectric. They are two very different systems. I also do not recommend opening up the gearcase, unless it is relatively certain that there is an actual problem with one of its compnents.

Test first, take apart second.

Welcome to iboats!

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Any possibility that you have the wrong control box for the motor? The indications that you are getting suggests a hydro electric control box to me. It does not work the same way as the right one for your motor.

Confusing the two controls is especially easy if what you have is an Evinrude control, because the one for the hydro electric and the "selectric" units look similar.

I think it is the wrong control box. I have located another one that is mid 70s I am going to test. I hope it works. I am sure it is from a bigger engine though. It is on a glastron.

bob

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

You could, but then you could still have both on, which would be bad.

The best idea is the original switch, that has safety lock-outs to prevent bad things from happening.
That said, another way is to have a single Single Pole, Double Throw (SPDT) switch. Center would be Neutral, One position would be Fwd, the other would be Reverse. The warnings:
You can start the motor in gear. Bad
You can start the motor in gear, at full throttle. Very bad
You can shift into neutral when running at full throttle. Extremely bad.
You can shift into REVERSE when running forward at full throttle. You could be dead.

I hate the dead part. So, an SPDT switch would allow me to start it in neutral. I just have to be super careful about the other stuff, especially the dead part. Is that right? That is you can start it in neutral?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

Sure, with a toggle switch you can start it in any gear (including neutral), in any throttle position. If you go this route (I can't recommend it 'cause it's not safe, although I have done it myself) at least get safety covers for the toggle switch:

 

[Bob1944]

Re: 1963 Evinrude 40 HP Electric Shift Problem

excellent advise. Thank you.

bob