1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

[Shawnb23]

So i replaced the water pump and everything went fine. Went to install the lower unit back in and had some trouble getting it to go. I was told to have it set to neutral. That didn't work so I read to put it in forward gear and fooled with it a bit and it went in. Now it doesn't seem like it wants to go back in neutral? On the engine there is a slide that the shifter cable connects to but I can't seem to figure out where its gotta be at for neutral? I Think my cable is locking up so I tried to move it at the slide end and it move's but I can't find neutral?

 

[Shawnb23]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Also it now pumps alot of water out the hole's and when I go to shut it off it kind of makes a click click click noise, but I suppose that is cause it's in gear when I shut it off?

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Quite possible the lower unit is in the wrong gear, or the selector has spun around too far. You'll have to pull the LU and verify that it is in the proper gear and ensure the controls are in the same gear. It's a bit pain in the backside!

Ian

 

[Shawnb23]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Whats the method for doing this? The Shift shaft (little splined rod) selects the gear on the lower unit correct? Which way does it need to be for netural or forward?

 

[cell]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

I just had my lower end off.On the bench I turned the shift rod counter clockwise.Do it a few times to get a feel for it.You should feel the clicks.If you feel a click,turn the prop.If it only turns clockwise with a ratchet sound your in forward gear.Slowly turn shift shaft again you should feel another click.turn the prop.If it turns in both directions its in neutral.Turn the shift shaft again feel the click.Turn the prop.If it only turns a little either way its in reverse.
Do a few times and get a feel for it.while your turning the prop don't turn the drive shaft...just the prop.

I used a socket to turn the shift shaft also.I put my controls in reverse,and my lower unit in revers to install it to the mid.If your water tube came out with the lower unit take it off gently and install it on the outboard first.Lube the ends.Now while your huffing the lower unit on the mid take a screw driver and guide the water tube in the pump housing.Now turn the prop to get the drive shaft to line up,while your pushing up.Just move it little left or right.It probably wont just pop right up even when everything is lined up.

oh ya, I have the same outboard to.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Shawn, the shift slider should be in the middle for neutral. You likely have the shift rod too far into forward for the movement to neutral to be effective. I always install the LU in neutral. You might need to wiggle the shifter a bit to line 'em up.

 

[Shawnb23]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Ok I tried it again but I think it's still stuck in forward. I removed the lower unit check to see what gear it was in by turning the prop. It only turned clockwise with a clicking noise (no resistance). So I figured it was in forward I then set my control box to forward. I slid it back into place and turned the prop a bit to get it to click in and pushed it up. I then bolted everything. Now no matter where I move the control box to (forward, reverse, neutral) it still just moves clockwise with a clicking noise.

 

[Shawnb23]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Any ideas? Or other way's to get them synced?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Rachet clockwise is forward gear. Drop the LU, and move the control from forward to neutral. Watch what direction it moves the shift rod. Now turn the shift rod on the LU in that direction until it "clicks" into neutral. Set the control to neutral and reinstall the LU. You may need to rock the control a bit to line up the shift rods, if it is out of adjustment.

 

[cell]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

The degree of movement from forward to reverse on the shift shaft is very small.The rest of the "free movement" will give you false forwared or nutrual.

I spent a good 15 minutes spinning and understanding what was happening when I was turning the shift shaft.(guess it didn't hurt that I had the guts pulled out too.so I can see how it shifted).

Your not in forward until you can turn the shift shaft counter clockwise,and find nutrual,reverse.To make it easy>only turn the shift shaft counter clockwise.Makes it to confusing when you spinn it blindly in both directions....I would'nt install it while in nutrual...not everyone has a six foot hand span and can reach the flywheel to line up the drive shaft....Also I would'nt install it in forward.If you just hit that shift rod a tad it will get knocked out of gear and spin,giving you a false forward...Hence the reason why I installed it in reverse.Theese are old outboards.Parts don't stay put the way they did when new......

 

[Shawnb23]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

The reverse solution worked like a charm, I put the control's in reverse set the shift shaft to reverse using a wrench and slid the lower unit up. I wigged the prop from left to right a little so it wouldn't change gear. Now I'm replacing the control cable Mine is not moving smoothly and I believe thats what cause the old control's to break.

 

[Shawnb23]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

fixed.

 

[cell]

Re: 1971 Merucy 115 HELP!

Good job

If you have the original controls.It doesn't hurt to split the half's and grease em up.When I opened mine it was dry as a bone,and worked a lot better after I greased it.