60 HP force (1985) won't shift

[greggrant]

Okay, mY 60 HP force outboard is stuck in fwd gear. When it is on the lake the gear / throttle will move from fwd through neutral and into rev but the only change I see is in rpms. The prop continues to spin even in neutral. I took apart the remote control and everything inside looks good and seems to be working like it should. My cables are moving as they should but the shift lever on the motor does not seem to want to move. I hate to have to open up the lower unit (I've never been in there before) but I hate having this thing sit on someones lot even more and $$ is an issue too. What should I be looking for and how much trouble is it to get into it myself?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[roscoe]

Re: 60 HP force (1985) won't shift

Take a closer look where the cables attach to the motor. I'm going from memory on this so I may not describe it quite right. The cables attach to a cam type doo-hicky (professional terminology), which is connected to a shift rod which moves up and down. When the motor is in forward gear(shaft pushed down), the hole in the top of the shift rod should be 1 and 3/8 inches above the steering pivot that it passes thru. There is a lock nut just below the hole that can be adjusted.<br /><br />Halfway down to the lower unit, on the left side, there is a "lower shock mount" cover. Remove this cover and you will see where the shift rod has a joint in it, held together by a cotter pin.<br /><br />Check these areas for any damage or wear, or a missing cotter pin. See if you can move the shift rod up and down with your hand. <br /><br />There is a little more to getting it all adjusted correctly, but this is a start and will hopefully pinpoint the problem.

 

[greggrant]

Re: 60 HP force (1985) won't shift

I removed the "shock mount" and could see the shift joint. All looked like it was okay but I couldn't move it by hand very much. I played around with it and it and hand turned the flywheel while trying to get it ti shift a=with no luck. What's next ??

 

[roscoe]

Re: 60 HP force (1985) won't shift

Next I would drop the lower unit. Not open it up, just remove the lower unit from the motor leg.<br /><br />Remove the cotter pin that is behind the shock mount cover. Then remove the 6 bolts that hold the lower unit on. <br /><br />Then check to see if you can move the cables, cam, and shift rod, or if it is bound up in the powerhead area.<br /><br />On the lower unit, try to move the shift rod up and down, don't pound on it, just see if it is movable.<br /><br />I just checked my Clymers manual. It doesn't even have a diagram of your lower unit. So if you are going to get a manual, don't get the Clymers.<br /><br />Hopefully the problem is in the linkage by the powerhead.