Can't shift out of forward 2006 Mercury 60 HP Bigfoot

[wcwils]

Hi. After taking my boat out of the water, I noticed that the bearing carrier was broken. The two tabs that the bolts go through were broken loose and the bearing carrier was loose. Before I noticed the broken carrier, everything had been working fine. I replaced the bearing carrier and as far as I know I put everything back in place just as it came out. Now the motor won't shift out of forward. After some reading about what may have happened, I thought that the shifting rod have been in "no mans land" so I dropped the lower unit. The shifting rod turns freely like it isn't catching on anything. I'm sure I've done something stupid and obvious, but can't figure out what it is. Does anyone have any ideas on what I may have done wrong? Any help is greatly appreciated.​

 

[racerone]

Sounds like water got in there and froze.----That will put great pressure on those tabs and break them.----Did you replace seals ?---Pressure tested the unit ?----Turn the shift rod with a vice grip till you find neutral ---Turn CCW against the force of a strong spring.----Now assemble making sure lower unit stays in neutral and control box in neutral.

 

[wcwils]

Thanks. That makes sense about the water freezing in there. It was after sitting up for the winter that I noticed it. I had assumed it was from hitting a stump or something and just didn't notice it when putting it up. I haven't replaced any seals yet other than the o-ring around the bearing carrier, and haven't pressure tested it, but it didn't leak oil when I put it back together. I may have to do that. I can't figure out what I did wrong when putting it back together though. The shifting rod will turn freely 360 degrees with not much resistance. I may have to open it back up. Everything looked to be in good shape when I opened it the first time. Just looking to see if anyone could easily point out a mistake I had made when putting it back together. It looked pretty straight forward to take it apart and put back together, but it was working fine before I did it and isn't working now. I may have to let someone who knows what they are doing look at it. Thanks for the help.

 

[racerone]

Did you pull the shift shaft out ?----Did the shift pin fall out of the front of the propeller shaft ?

 

[wcwils]

I don't think so? All I did was pull out the old bearing carrier. Of course the propeller shaft with its reverse gear,clutch dog, and bearings came out with the old bearing carrier. I thought I put it all back together the way it was before but must have missed something. I don't see anything labeled as a shift pin on the drawing for it, but that may be a possibility? I did't pull out the whole shift shaft. Moving the shifter would turn the shift cam back and forth if that tell you anything? Thanks again for the help.

 

[racerone]

Serial # of the motor ?

 

[wcwils]

1b227402

 

[wcwils]

Solved.... So I knew the problem was just from something stupid that I had done. After going over the parts diagram I noticed that I never seen the follower cam and the ball bearings that are on the parts diagram. I had the motor tilted forward when I pulled the prop shaft out and they fell out behind the forward gear. Not understanding how it actually worked, I didn't even realize they were missing. After finding them and putting it back together, it works fine now. I understand it a lot better now. I realize anyone that had worked on lower units before, wouldn't ever make this mistake, but maybe this will save someone some time by reading this.