1979 Evinrude 35 hp - No Reverse Gear

[CaneyTB]

1979 Evinrude 35 hp model 35952A (Commercial) with a console/cable steering and throttle.

So...removed the lower unit to repair the water pump. Once that was complete, the LU was reinstalled. Upon testing the new water pump (with muffs...successful repair), I was shifting it in and out of forward, neutral and reverse. Forward was awesome, neutral was no spin, and there is no reverse. Dang it!

I should say that prior to removing the LU for the water pump repair, everything shifted properly and had forward and reverse.

Removed the LU, adjusted the shift rod to where the prop spun freely in both directions and the drive shaft was not spinning. Went back to the controller, made sure the shift handle was in neutral also. Reinstalled the LU...same thing...no reverse.

Went to the shift adjuster and tinkered with it, loosening and tightening, still no luck.
Removed the shift cable from the linkage on the starboard side of the motor and, with the motor running, moved the shifter by hand.

Wiggled it to make sure it was in neutral, and moved it into forward...moved very easily and the prop started spinning.

Went back to neutral, prop stopped spinning. Moved it into reverse, and it was very hard to move. I could feel the gears trying to engage...kind of thumping or pulsing came through the shift handle. Pushed a little harder towards the rear and the gears engaged and prop started spinning in reverse. Didn't feel right so I went back to neutral and shut it off. And then I came in here to type this question.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I feel like it is close to being right...just not sure what to adjust. I've attached some photos of my motor for reference.

Thanks,

Brandon

 

[Crosbyman]

shift link connector properly installed ??

 

[CaneyTB]

shift link connector properly installed ??

Yep...Solid as a rock. Forgot to mention that I double checked that.

 

[racerone]

I say the brass connecter and bolt are NOT properly installed here.

 

[CaneyTB]

Both the lower and upper shift rods are seated properly in the shift link connector and the bolts are secure. The connection is solid and feels like it is one solid rod.

Could the upper shift rod be out of alignment somehow?

 

[Vic.S]

Both the lower and upper shift rods are seated properly in the shift link connector and the bolts are secure. The connection is solid and feels like it is one solid rod.

Could the upper shift rod be out of alignment somehow?

To clarify
The shift rod clamp screws should be located in the groves in the ends of the rods ( see picture)
The lower shift rod should be screwed fully into the yoke..

It should not have been difficult to engage reverse, if the engine was running, using the local shift lever.

Did you at anytime remove the pivot pin located next to the oil drain screw?

 

[CaneyTB]

Hey Vic. S,

The diagram you provided is exactly how the shift rods (upper and lower) and bolts are positioned in the shift rod connector, so I think it is good there.

Someone else, on another forum, mentioned about the shift rod not being screwed in all the way. Gonna check on that tomorrow...never crossed my mind!

As far as the pivot pin next to the oil drain screw...no idea there was a pin near the screw. So, if it was removed, or messed with, it was not intentional. I'll check on that tomorrow while I have the LU off. I didn't tinker with the oil drain screw at all.

Great info...really appreciate the input. I'll post again with the results.

Thanks,

Brandon

 

[CaneyTB]

***THIS IS CROSS POSTED ON OTHER FORUMS...SORRY FOR THE DUPLICATION***

Ok...update. Removed the LU to see if the lower shift rod needed to be screwed in. It did not...solid as a rock in terms of being able to screw it in further.

I did, however, notice that the shift rod did have some vertical play in it...between 1/8th and 1/16th of an inch. As I was noticing that play, I saw the prop moving in conjunction with the shift rod movement.

When the shift rod moved upward, the prop moved inward, toward the foot, the same amount of travel as the shift rod...about 1/8 to 1/16th. When the shift rod moved down, the prop moved outward, away from foot.

I could move the prop in and out and the shift rod would move in unison.

So, I reinstalled the LU and while pulling outward on the prop (which moved the shift rod down), bolted everything back in place. The top of the shift rod nestled back into the connector perfectly and the bolt seated securely.

Fired up the motor and nada...still no reverse. The console shifter still in reverse, I went back to the motor and manually moved the shifter on the motor to reverse and it bit and started spinning in reverse...cool!

Went back up, shifted into neutral...no spin on the prop. Moved into forward, appropriate spin on the prop. Back to neutral...still good. Back to reverse...no spin. Nothing. No more reverse.

Returned to the motor and again attempted the shift handle and it wouldn't budge toward reverse past the point where I could feel the "thud thud thud" of things trying to mesh up.

Turned it off and gave up for the day.

Should the prop and the shift rod have play in them like that? Or, is that fine?

Should I attempt the lengthen the exterior shift cable on the motor?

Thanks everyone for your input so far.

Brandon

 

[Crosbyman]

Should I attempt the (to) lengthen the exterior shift cable on the motor?

...? disconnect that shift cable and test the motor on it's own

if ok then mess with the shifter cable adjustments

 

[Vic.S]

If the shift works correctly using the shift lever on the motor with the remote shift disconnected then there cannot be much wrong with the motor shift mechanism,

Your trouble must lie with the remote control. Probably just the cable adjustment,

Ideally consult the service manual or the fitting instructions for the remote.
In the absence of both I would set the motor and the remote to neutral and adjust the cable so that it can be connected to the motor shift lever without moving either

I am surprised by the magnitude of the prop shaft end float but if Racerone says that's normal it is normal.

 

[racerone]

Prop shaft moves due to detent ( spring and balls ) in the clutch dog.

 

[CaneyTB]

Been tinkering with the shifter lever on the motor, the shift knob on the motor, etc. Still no reverse. Forward is smooth and easy and neutral is easy to find. And when the shift cable is disconnected and try to shift it into reverse by hand, it is extremely difficult to push it rearward. I can barely feel the rear gear trying to engage...kind of dull thump each time it tries to catch. But I can't physically push it any further.

So, after much research, aka YouTube videos and message board searches, I moved the shift handle on the remote to reverse and then removed the lower unit. Then, while turning the prop in reverse (it was spinning freely like it was in Neutral and the drive shaft was not spinning), pushed the shift down and it caught into Reverse. Drive was spinning as I spun the prop by hand. Cool!

Reinstalled the LU with the shift lever still in Reverse. Buttoned everything up and shifted back into Neutral. Started things up and moved the shift lever on the remote into Reverse...and nothing. Exactly the same situation as before. Couldn't move it by hand into Reverse either. Shifted into Forward gear easily and back into Neutral smoothly. I don't think I can adjust knob on the shift cable enough to make it push further back.

So what does that mean? I have no clue...obviously. I'm thinking maybe the rear gear and/or the backside of the dog clutch is somehow out of whack...or are worn out.

Next stop looks to be the mechanic.

 

[Crosbyman]

Any thing loose here ...see yellows