88 Force 85 hp intermittent shifting issues

[mbalogh]

Hey everyone -

I've scoured the web looking for answers and haven't been able to find any, so I finally broke down and had to ask. I've been battling shifting issues on my 85 hp Force for a while now. One day it will shift like butter, then the next time I use it it'll pop in and out of gear (sometimes in both forward and reverse), or just outright refuse to go into gear and just sit there grinding. I've tried adjusting the shift/throttle cable ends on the engine, adjusting the nuts at the top of the shift rod, and replacing the shift rod seal in the lower unit. Every time I think I've got it right it goes back to not shifting right a few days later.

What doesn't make sense to me is the intermittent behavior. Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this? I'm thinking there must be some slop in the control box, cables, or shift linkages on the engine that allows it to not engage the shift rod/gears fully sometimes. But I've looked it all over and can't find a thing.

Thanks for any help!
Mike

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 88 Force 85 hp intermittent shifting issues

Isolate the problem. Disconnect the cable and shift by hand. OK? Then the problem is upstream, shifter or cable. Not OK then it's probably shifting rod adjustment. My money is on a failing cable. edit: or connector.

 

[mbalogh]

Re: 88 Force 85 hp intermittent shifting issues

Thanks! Good thought. I'll give that a try and let you know how it goes.

 

[mbalogh]

Re: 88 Force 85 hp intermittent shifting issues

I think I found the problem. Well, problems really. I took your suggestion and shifted the boat by hand at the engine and the gears engaged perfectly, so I knew the problem must be the cable or controls (thankfully!). I checked the controls first and found the clamp that held the cable in place was a little loose and letting the cable jacket move 1/8" or so. And the shift cable jacket was also rubbing on the underside of the air intake that's mounted to the carbs. I was all rough where it had been rubbing and that was definitely introducing some drag to the shifting movement.

After tightening the cable clamp and removing the air intake the boat seems to be shifting fine now. Hopefully it stays this way because I've thought it was fixed before only to have trouble a week later. I'll have to trim the bottom of the air intake somehow to keep it from rubbing the cable.

Thanks for the suggestion!
Mike

 

[foodfisher]

Re: 88 Force 85 hp intermittent shifting issues

Look around for an empty bolt/screw hole. Might just be a missing hold down clamp.