9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

[rooooney]

I have a 9.8 Merc 110- i believe it;s a 1978 model. After the winter I brought it out and it started right up. The second time I tried to start it I noticed the shifter lever felt funny. After further inspection i determined that It will only go from forward to reverse with out neutral.

I tried to start it in forward but it would not start (does it have to be in neutral to turn over?).

I removed the carb (to see gears) and the lower unit (with the lever in neutral position) . With the LU removed i can feel it click through all 3 positions up top with the lever. I put it in neutral and made sure the LU was in neutral also. I put it all back together. Still the same issue, when it's all together the shifter seems to only hit forward and neutral but its actually in reverse while in the neutral position. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Yes you will have a neutral safety switch on it.
Is the gearshift cable moving smoothly ?

 

[rooooney]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

It's just a rod that shifts the gears correct? It's a tiller motor with a shifter on the unit, no controls.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Yep correct, moves a cam that pushes a cam follower. Was the shiftshaft tight in its bushing? Not much lateral movement?

 

[mercuk]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Was it like that before the winter?! Or just after you serviced it and put a new impeller in the L/U??!!

My guess is that the shifter on the engine is not in sync with the lower unit......

 

[rooooney]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Shift shaft in the LU was not very tight - it did have some lateral movement , with the LU removed i adjusted the square headed bolt and made sure it was tight. Everything seems fine and set to neutral with the prop spinning free but as soon as I bolt the LU to the engine neutral is gone.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

So when you bolt it up without touching anything to turn the shift shaft the prop will be in gear already?
Have you had it running on muffs with the gear lever up top free to turn and see if while changing f to r that there is a spot where it doesnt?

 

[rooooney]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Today I took the LU back off and played with the shift shaft again. It seems to be a LU issue for sure. Now when I rotate the shift shaft I can't find neutral at all. It's seems to be somehow catching the gear. With just the LU if I put the shift shaft where I think neutral is I can freely spin the prop both ways with my hand but if I turn the driveshaft clockwise it catches and moves the prop in the forward motion. Also when the shift shaft is in reverse its real tight but when it's in forward there is a lot of play in the shift shaft. Forward and neutral are not separated by a distinguishable movement. It's there a way to get to the gears in the LU?

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Yep pulling it apart....................
The only thing i can suggest is try turning the shift shaft right around in case you are using the backside of it by accident .
If it spun while you had the LU off it would be using the flat backside which dosent have a neutral notch

 

[rooooney]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

I guess I'll be tearing the LU apart. I looked up the top gear shaft chamber with the LU off and it moves perfectly through 3 distinct settings. I set the top to forward, set the LU to forward and slid it together. Bolted it up and it was properly in forward, flicked it to neutral and it was in reverse. Looks like everything is proper with the top unit so unless I missed something i'm guessing something is wrong in the LU behind the prop. Will parts be possible to find down there or should I just be looking for a new LU?

 

[mercuk]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

I guess I'll be tearing the LU apart. I looked up the top gear shaft chamber with the LU off and it moves perfectly through 3 distinct settings. I set the top to forward, set the LU to forward and slid it together. Bolted it up and it was properly in forward, flicked it to neutral and it was in reverse. Looks like everything is proper with the top unit so unless I missed something i'm guessing something is wrong in the LU behind the prop. Will parts be possible to find down there or should I just be looking for a new LU?

WOAHH THERE...Just a word of advice, they are REAL tricky to work on them lower units thats IF it comes apart alright. I would try pulling the lower unit off and physically shifting the shift rod with a pair of pliers or something to see what you have going on there first....
The way that cam works in the lower unit is that it HAS to go past neutral to get from foward to reverse or vice versa. So in the lower unit it is the same up top i.e FWD N REV.

From what your saying in your last post, you said it was in FWD then you shifted it into N and it ended up being in REV instead...... Trust me, for it to go from FWD to REV it physical HAS TO go past Neutral on the cam lobe within the gearbox.

I'm still conviced something is not linked up properly and seriously doubt something is wrong with you lower unit if its still selecting FWD and REV....
Just my 2 pence worth.....

 

[rooooney]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

WOAHH THERE...Just a word of advice, they are REAL tricky to work on them lower units thats IF it comes apart alright. I would try pulling the lower unit off and physically shifting the shift rod with a pair of pliers or something to see what you have going on there first....

Tanks Mercuk. I tried the pliers on the lower unit in attempt to figure this out. If I shift it to forward and spin the drive shaft clockwise it spins the prop forward. If I put it in neutral or reverse it spins the prop in reverse. When its in neutral the prop will spin freely with my hand but when i turn the drive shaft with the shifter in neutral it will spin the prop in reverse.
I agree though - i'm trying to do anything I can to avoid taking apart the LU.

 

[rooooney]

Re: 9.8 Merc 110 Shifting problems.

Problem solved. I sold it as is today. Good riddance- thanks for everyones help though, I learned a lot about these motors over the last week or two. Back on the hunt for a reliable 9.9.