1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

[oldsteury]

Hi to all, I had the carb rebuilt and the impeller replaced on my motor. After getting the boat back when I put it in the water I had reverse, but no forward.

I took the boat back and left it. After 2 days they said it was fixed, back to the water, same thing. I took it back the same day and they said it was in the cable adjustment. We pushed the lever forward and it seemed to engage the prop.
I adjusted the cable that evening and took it to the lake the next day and it never fully engaged. I disconected the cable and tryed by hand. I had to pull extremely hard to even get it to attempt to engage. I think somthing is out of adjustment in the gearbox or with some rods. I took the shroud off this morning hopeing there would be some quick adjustment, no such luck. Im going to take it back next week and see what they will do. Any ideas in the mean time on somthing I might can do myself.

Thanks in advance, Eddie

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

eddie, you paid them to do it right the first time. go back and see the owner of the company. they don't have it in correctly. tell them to put it in the water and test it.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

I am going to take for granted that we are talking about the mechanical gearcase, and not the electric. The brass shift rod connector has to be hooked properly, as in, the hole's in the connector have to line up with the detent's in the shift rod. The shift engagement, or adjustment must be made at the shift handle, under the power head, where it goes into the exhaust housing. A mechanic who was born, before the engine was made is a real plus here.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

There is a linkage adjustment on the handle shaft. Hope you don't have serious wear in the lower unit!!!

 

[oldsteury]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

Thanks for the replies.
It is a mechanical shift. I took the shift arm off and didnt see any way to adjust it there. I can move it back to reverse fine, I have to push it ahead all the way to get it to engage in forward at least while the motor is not running, by checking the prop to see if it is engaged. I tried that on the water the other day and the boat barely moved and I could hear a clicking sound like something wasnt engageing all the way. If I were on the water and it did engage fully, the throttle would be in the wide open position before forward gear would engage, that doesnt sound good.
I do feel that they need to fix it because I hadnt had a problem with it before. I could move the handle forward slightly and forward gear would engage.

Eddie

 

[F_R]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

Take the inspection plate (s) off the side of the midsection. You will see the shift rod connector inside. Watch is as you move the shift lever. You are looking for slack or delay in movement. I am thinking you have a broken shift shaft or clevis under the powerhead. Poke in there and see if you can move the rod up and down without moving the shifter handle. Everything should be snug with no lost motion, if there is slop, the powerhead has to come off to replace the shift shaft. Actually, more than that, the whole thing has to come out of the motor mounts. You can't see the shift shaft and clevis from the outside.

There are actully two adjustments at the shift handle. First one is the handle can be moved on the piece that goes through the lower cowl by loosening the 2 screws on the handle. The other one is the pin that rides in the interlock bar can be adjusted by loosening the hex screw that holds it to the shift shaft which goes inside.

As somebody already suggested, check the shift rod connector inside those two plates and make sure it is installed properly.

 

[oldsteury]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

Thanks for the info, I'll check the play as you suggested and the adjustment in the shift handle.

Eddie

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

I assume that the shift setup was fine before you removed the lower unit, and hopefully you did not remove that philips screw from the lower unit? If so, there would be but one mistake you could make.

The upper and lower shift rods have grooves in them that align with the threaded holes in the brass shift connector.

It sounds like you did not have those grooves aligned as they should be upon reassembly. If this is the case, redo that portion of your work, then correct the shift cable adjustment if youi've moved it.

 

[oldsteury]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

imported_F_R, I took the inspection plate off and I could see the rod. I tried to move it up and down as you suggested and it appears not to have any play.

I adjusted the the handle with the 2 screws. I got a little more forward movement out of the handle.

I dont understand this---(The other one is the pin that rides in the interlock bar can be adjusted by loosening the hex screw that holds it to the shift shaft which goes inside) Is this the bar that goes up under the flywheel?

I should have bought a manual when I bought the boat

Joe, I took the boat to a marina. This is the first trip for the boat, and I was afraid something that was working would get out of adjustment or messed up.
The carb rebuild they did and the installation of the impeller was great, but what good does that do when the boat wont go forward.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

Yes, the interlock bar is the flat/curved bar with the notches that the shifter pin rides in.

Have you checked to see that the shift rod connector screws are in the notches as Joe suggested? I don't know what else to offer.

 

[oldsteury]

Re: 1965 Big Twin 40hp gear shift troubles

I have checked all that I can see, I'll take the boat back to the marina tuesday and see what I can get accomplished. When the motor is off and I push the handle forward the prop appears to be locked, but when I start it and put it in gear it wont move the boatforward, but will in reverse. I guess its not fully engaged.

Anyway thanks for your words of advice.
Eddie