Hello.
I have been on the site for quite a while, documented a restoration project and did some posting on the Mercrusier board. I picked up a couple of Mercury outboards as a project a few days ago a 4 HP and a 9.8 HP. Both motors have good compression and seem to be clean and worthy of some work. I want the 4 HP to keep but plan on selling the 9.8 either as a running motor or in a bunch of parts. Anyway, I have a question on the 9.8. The serial number is 3800155 I beleive it be be a 1974. I am not familiar with the motor so I am going to do my best to describe my issue.
The shift linkage will not move from the rear (reverse) position to neutral and forward. I took a look at the shift linkage and it seems as though it was taken apart and put back together incorrectly. I think this because the linkage inside the cowling hits the side of the powerhead and because of this will not go past horizontal. Likewise the handle outside the cowling is pointed aft (reverse). It seems as though the internal linkage should be close to vertical and move freely over the course of 45 degrees or so. I have taken some pictures of the parts in question. I hope that someone can take a look and verify that the linkage is oriented incorrectly.
The black circle is the shift handle, pointing aft. The red circle is the linkage, it is attached to a horizontal square shaft that attaches to the vertical shifting mechanism and the throttle/tiller control the other side of the motor. The yellow circle is where the linkage arm contacts the powerhead, that is as far as it will travel. As I mentioned, it seems as though the part in the red circle should be close to vertical. MAkes sense that it would be leaning aft but not horizontal and definitely not stuck under the powerhead. Can anyone offer an opinion. I am not sure if this may somehow indicate that the lower is not synched with the upper unit, causing the shift to not operate or just some yahoo took it apart and did not put it back correctly. Thanks for looking!!
I have been on the site for quite a while, documented a restoration project and did some posting on the Mercrusier board. I picked up a couple of Mercury outboards as a project a few days ago a 4 HP and a 9.8 HP. Both motors have good compression and seem to be clean and worthy of some work. I want the 4 HP to keep but plan on selling the 9.8 either as a running motor or in a bunch of parts. Anyway, I have a question on the 9.8. The serial number is 3800155 I beleive it be be a 1974. I am not familiar with the motor so I am going to do my best to describe my issue.
The shift linkage will not move from the rear (reverse) position to neutral and forward. I took a look at the shift linkage and it seems as though it was taken apart and put back together incorrectly. I think this because the linkage inside the cowling hits the side of the powerhead and because of this will not go past horizontal. Likewise the handle outside the cowling is pointed aft (reverse). It seems as though the internal linkage should be close to vertical and move freely over the course of 45 degrees or so. I have taken some pictures of the parts in question. I hope that someone can take a look and verify that the linkage is oriented incorrectly.
The black circle is the shift handle, pointing aft. The red circle is the linkage, it is attached to a horizontal square shaft that attaches to the vertical shifting mechanism and the throttle/tiller control the other side of the motor. The yellow circle is where the linkage arm contacts the powerhead, that is as far as it will travel. As I mentioned, it seems as though the part in the red circle should be close to vertical. MAkes sense that it would be leaning aft but not horizontal and definitely not stuck under the powerhead. Can anyone offer an opinion. I am not sure if this may somehow indicate that the lower is not synched with the upper unit, causing the shift to not operate or just some yahoo took it apart and did not put it back correctly. Thanks for looking!!
