1984 Evinrude 35-hp won't go into neutral

[tom82305]

I have a 1984 35-hp Evinrude with a manual shift lever on the left side of the powerhead. It will only occasionally go into neutral. I am sometimes (rarely) able to get it into neutral when the engine is cold, but not otherwise. The lever won't "stop" in the middle neutral position; it just will flip between forward and reverse. It's like the middle position doesn't exist. <br /><br />Neutral is good to have. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[OBJ]

Re: 1984 Evinrude 35-hp won't go into neutral

Hi Tom....welcome to iboats.<br /><br />First thing to come to mind is that the detent balls in the lower unit have come out or were never there. The detent balls slide into a slot when you go to neutral to keep it there. You should be able to feel it when you shift. If the shift lever just goes back and forth like you posted, the detent balls are what I would look at. Have you checked the lower unit lube lately for any signs of metal? Not real likely the balls could have got out but ya' never know.

 

[G DANE]

Re: 1984 Evinrude 35-hp won't go into neutral

The balls cant get out, but the spring can break. No doubt, your L/U has to come apart, like OBJ says.

 

[tom82305]

Re: 1984 Evinrude 35-hp won't go into neutral

Does the fact that the gear box will go into neutral when totally cold have any significance? The boat and motor are on the trailer right now and the lever clicks right into place in neutral. However, yesterday I don't think I was able to get into neutral even once after I launched, then motored for a couple of hours. I started the boat at the beginning of my trip in neutral and that was the last I saw of that gear position for the day.