Early Chrysler 20 HP stuck in gear

[reelfishin]

I came across an old Chrysler 20HP the other day, it was given to me by an elderly neighbor that no longer had a use for it.
The motor has been sitting for at least 20 years.
It has two immediate concerns, it will need a recoil spring, as the rope is all the way out and there is no recoil, and second, it appears to be stuck in forward gear? The lever won't move and it doesn't seem to want to budge.
I have no other history on this motor. It's a mid 60's motor, early enough to still use the old rounded West Bend style cover. The numbers on the plate are damaged and not clearly readable. It's a freshwater only motor so it's in excellent cosmetic shape other than a missing left side "Chrysler" logo on the hood.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Early Chrysler 20 HP stuck in gear

Maybe try the doug russell web site or mercruiserparts dot com and look at the Chrysler parts around 1976 and see if the blow ups for the starter will work for your motor. Franz at chrysler crew might have parts you need as well as service manuals. If you get it to turn and compression looks good get some marvel mystery oil and soak both cylinders for a couple of days periodically turning the powerhead to circulate the oil. If it will run you will need to rebuild carb and fuel pump and get a new impeller. Sounds like a fun project if you can get the starter fixed.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Early Chrysler 20 HP stuck in gear

Stuck in gear is most likely a hardened seal and dirty shift rod where the shift rod goes into the lower unit. Not a big problem. buy a new seal and clean the shift rod so it slides smoothly in the new seal.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Early Chrysler 20 HP stuck in gear

Stuck in gear is most likely a hardened seal and dirty shift rod where the shift rod goes into the lower unit. Not a big problem. buy a new seal and clean the shift rod so it slides smoothly in the new seal.

I'll give that a try, I don't think its anything serious, it looks to have spent most of it's live sitting, it don't look like it's got much wear on it from use.
I was told it had sat for the last 20 years or so, maybe more. The guy that owned it died back in 1984, and he was sick for years, so I don't think he used it much even back then.