Force 125 stuck in neutral

[Kevincem]

I just took my boat out today and wasn't able to get it into gear. I took the boat out two weeks ago and it was working fine. Also it seams that I was able to rev the engine more than I normally could. What could cause this problem? The motor is a 1988 Force 125 model# 1251X8A.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

When you shift to forward do you hear the gear engaging or does the shifter seem looser then before? Did you service the lower unit since two weeks ago by changing the gear oil?

 

[Realgun]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

I would be willing to bet either the shift cable broke or came loose on either end.<br />I had the throttle cable break on me only idle and fwd and rev.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

Oh almost forgot there is a clip under the powerhead in the front of the leg. See if the pin fell out.

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

eurolarva I do not hear the gear engaging at all. Before I would hear the gear go in. Now I don't hear anything. I did take my beat to a shop to have a remote troll installed because I needed a custom bracket made. But they shouldn't have touched the engine at all.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

You might want to look into what realgun says. Have someone move the gearshift all the way forward and all the way to reverse while you look at the linkages under the cowling. Another possiblity is the pivot screw was removed by mistake on the lower unit. My guess is you are going to have to remove the lower unit and see if you can shift it from the linkage after it is removed.

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

When I move the throttle forward and reverse it looks like all of the linkages are working. I looked at the sealent over the shift arm pivot pin and it hasn't been touched.<br /><br />I looked for the clip under the powerhead in the front of the leg but couldn't see what you were refering too Realgun.

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

I put the boat on the muffs in the driveway. I was working linkages and she went into gear. The only problem is that she won't go back into netrual. Any ideas?

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

Does the little white button that the upper throttle linkage pushes put the motor in netral? If so could the problem be electrical?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

When my chrysler would not idle I would rev the engine up and slam it into gear. I did this one too many times and busted the pin that is in the pivot assembly for the clutch. That caused me to have to tear the lower unit apart and fix it. If someone before you removed the pivot screw and put it back but missed the hole this assembly may be your problem. The only way to verify it is to remove the lower unit and keep working the linkage from forward, neutral and reverse. If the linkage is broken or separated from the pivot screw the linkage may pull out in your hand. One way or another you are going to have to pull the lower unit and find out what is happening.

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

Eurolarva I have removed my lowerend and will start tearing it down tonight. My guess is that my gear shift pin is broken. If that is the case would you know where I might be able to purchase a replacement?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

It looks like item 32 HERE <br /><br />IF this is the part you can order it from a merc dealer or order it from the link. The shipping charge will probably be 25 bucks so you may want to order it locally. You will also need a seal kit item 74 however they are not showing a price for it. Napa may have the seal kit part number 18-2632 or you can order it HERE

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

I was expecting you to say part number 25 on the same page which is no longer available.<br />Thanks

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

It is real hard to tell the correct part from the lousy resolution from the merc site. If you can find a factory parts manual for your motor it is the best. They give the part numbers and you can zoom to like 500 times the size with good resolution. I got mine from a chrysler site and downloaded it. I dont see how part 25 can go bad. I am thinking there is a spring pin somewhere on item 45 that connects to the clutch. Do you have a syloc or a clymor service manual? Roscoe may be able to help you better with this lower unit. Chryslers are a bit different. When you have the lower unit off take the impeller and the water pump off and turn the drive shaft clockwise while lifting up on the shifter linkage. Then push down on the linkage. Does the prop change directions? I would not take the lower unit apart unless your problem lies inside it. If you do take this apart you really should have a good manual.

 

[Kevincem]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

eurolarva Thanks for all of your help! I replaced the pin and put the old girl back together. I tested her out on the lake today and forward and reverse both worked fine. <br /><br /> The problem that I am having now is that she idles too low about 500 to 600 RPMs. Everytime I try to put the engine in gear it quits. Shouldn't the engine idle at 800 RPMs? How do I adjust the idle and verify that the cables are truly pushing to full WOT?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Force 125 stuck in neutral

I do not know if the force has an idle speed control. For WOT you should be able to put the throttle all the way to full and look inside the carb and see the butteryflys are opened up to the max without starting to close in the opposite direction (I hope this makes sense). Then with the throttle at its slowest speed the carb butterflies should be closed. On chyrslers there is a roller on an eccentric that is adjusted touching the thottle control for the carb.