1976 Evinrude 85HP - Trouble Engaging Forward Gear

[Royale With Cheese]

I have a 1976 Evinrude 85 HP that I having issues with engaging the forward gear. As I attempt to put it in gear slowly it will clunk (noise as it is hitting the gears trying to engage) quite a number of times before it finally engages. If I put into gear quickly it will clunk a few times before it engages, but will sometimes become disengaged and engage again quickly.

Once it engages fully there are no issues and I can run any distance with no problems, it just occurs again when I pull it out of gear and then then try to put it back into gear.

No problems putting it into reverse.

I have replaced the lower unit oil and it ran clear, so I sure that there is no water in it. On the lower magnetic drain plug there were a few shards of metal.
After I replaced the oil I put the ear muffs on it and tested it out and it went into forward and reverse gear very easily and it appeared to resolve the issue, but the next time I put it in the lake it did the same thing.

Is there something I need to adjust in the shift linkage or is there something worse going on in my lower unit?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Royale with Cheese

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 85HP - Trouble Engaging Forward Gear

The clutch dog won't last long with that happening.

You need to be sure that the swivel barrel at the top of the shift rod is set correctly to start with: It needs to be no more than two turns out from gently seated, with the flat side facing the driveshaft. The nylon bushing in the hole in the swivel through which the bellcrank pin goes needs to be in place.

Once you have the shift rod right, put the remote in neutral and disconnect the shift cable at the engine. Take the sparkplugs out so that you can turn the flywheel easily by hand.

Using the shift lever at the engine, move from neutral to forward and check that the gears are locked in forward by turning the flywheel clockwise. The propeller should turn clockwise.

Move to reverse and again check that the gears are in reverse by turning the flywheel clockwise. The propeller should turn counter-clockwise.

Move the lever back to neutral and determine that the propeller will spin freely.

Move the remote control arm fully forward and back to neutral. Adjust the cable using the trunnion wheel until the cable will slip on without making any adjustment to the engine linkage, and reconnect.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 85HP - Trouble Engaging Forward Gear

Thanks ezeke!
I will do the things you outlined this evening and see if it cures my issue.
Will report back tomorrow.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Re: 1976 Evinrude 85HP - Trouble Engaging Forward Gear

Ezeke,
Thank you again sir.
I followed all your steps and that fixed my problem.
It drops right into forward gear now.
Thanks again,
Royale With Cheese