I bought a used lower unit for my 1981 omc stringer 400 and this unit does not go back into neutral at speed. The boat slows then the shifter will go into neutral. This takes 5 seconds or so. any advice/
Welcome to iboats.
It's probably the pressure of the water on the prop stopping the gears from sliding apart. Why would you want to put it into neutral at speed? Normal procedure is to pull it back to idle, weight for the boat to slow down and then shift to neutral.
I don't know about the hydro or full mechanical shifts. I know why an electric shift will pull that off, but I'm thinking the Mercs I've run have always needed to wind down too.
Though if you're saying that you can't come off the throttle fast, maybe the system needs some adjusting?
When I am almost stopped this happens. not at speed. Say I come around to pick up a skier, it wont go to neutral, takes at least 5 seconds. My old lower unit worked properly, it just slipped while riding.
The electric/hydraulic shift that they used in the outboards would corrode up and stick if they got water in the gear lub.
Don't know if the hydro/mechanical would have the same problem?
