'90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

[archcycle]

After removing the gearcase and installing a new seal kit I've got issues setting the shift linkages which are no longer working properly in their original positions. Motor off, the remote shifter hits the detents quickly and the gears engage F and R easily with N feeling good too.

Motor running and boat in the water it shifts into F smoothly with not even a discernable clicking (!) where it used to clack as they do. it goes forward easily, but then if I put it WOT it hits a wall at 2200 rpm indicated. We tried going straight to the arm off the carbs to bypass the remote throttle but still brick wall at 2200. Checked the throttle stop and it's fine. Motor is peeing cool and strong with a new water pump. Also though reverse engages perfectly with no load it just slams the dogs when in the water under load and minor adjustments don't seem to be doing much except harming the smoothness of going into F. I have visually inspected the gears and dog myself and they looked great. I've searched a bit and seen that maybe my shift shaft isn't right but how can I check this or what can I do now to adjust?

 

[ezeke]

Re: '90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

The shift rod is set by turning it clockwise to shorten, CCW to lengthen.

Measurement is 21-15/16 standard, 26-15/16 X models.

Measure from the outer mating surfaces of the gearcase to the center of the hole at the top of the shift rod, with the gearcase in neutral.

 

[archcycle]

Re: '90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

Thanks I will set that as soon as I can get the foot off again. Assuming you are referring to my no reverse situation only though, unless there is a connection between shift shaft adjustment and no WOT rpms as well?

 

[ezeke]

Re: '90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

Thanks I will set that as soon as I can get the foot off again. Assuming you are referring to my no reverse situation only though, unless there is a connection between shift shaft adjustment and no WOT rpms as well?

That was just for smoothing out the shifting; you need to adjust the shift rod before attempting any adjustment to the cable.

The rev limit is probably from S.L.O.W. (Speed Limiting Overheat Warning)engaging.

 

[archcycle]

Re: '90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

Some back story on the heat issue--
I got to this point because it was running hot, though not to the S.L.O.W. point or the overheat alarm point. Cut my last trip short when the heat started while we were out (I check the stream a lot). It ran great all the way home at 3000rpms and the stream was hot enough that you'd rather not touch it but not painfully hot.

So here's what's been done to address that heat:

There is no restriction at the thermostats because those are not present. Also pulled the thermostat covers and put the hose on the water tube and they poured water through.

Brand new water pump and housing. Got a great seal on the water tube for sure as this part was a pain in the *** thanks to someone's prior handywork so I took the time to make sure it was sealed, and checked the tube for leaks by hooking the hose up to the tube before installing the foot.

Stream is strong and cool.

Replaced the head gaskets and everything looked good in there.

Spark plugs were in good shape and pretty clean but I replaced them anyway.

A temp gauge read the heads in the high 11x range idling in the driveway, and while running at that 2200 RPM they were touchable (didn't have the gauge out there).



Here's my manual's take on my S.L.O.W.

"On all carbureted looper powerheads, if the S.L.O.W. system is activated,
the ignition module will gradually reduce and limit the engine speed to 2500
rpm. This will occur if the engine temperature exceeds specification as
follows:
60? loopers: approximately 240?F (1 16OC) 90? loopers: approximately 2030F (95OC)
In order for normal operation to resume, the engine must cool below
about 207OF (97OC) for 60? motors or below 1700F (77%) for 90? motors.
Also, the engine must be shut off and restarted before the power pack will
reset the S.L.O.W. system."​

However the heads were cool enough to touch, and I never got the RPMs high enough to allow it to slowly, or by any rate, reduce to 2500. And it's not like it bounces around that range, it hits there and that's just it.

edit: by that range, i mean it hits 2200 and DONE

 

[archcycle]

Re: '90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

If I have bad temperature sensors activating SLOW despite all this, one would assume that the heat alarm would also be going off, right?

 

[archcycle]

Re: '90 Evinrude 120hp shift adjustments and no WOT

UPDATE!

I dropped the foot and measured and set the shift shaft. BAM shifting! It falls into F like its got a real clutch and just a tiny bang going into R. Thanks to all that said do that.

Referenced in this and another thread, I changed the wires from the power pack to the coils and fixed the WOT problem as well as the nasty idle it had. I'm back on the water!!!