Gear changing problems...please help

S

Singing Boat Guy

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 22, 2007
Messages
47
I have a quicksilver control with trim running to my 90 hp mercury. When I put is all together the controler does not operate the gears. I have detached the cable and do it by hand, but it sure makes it tricky to operate.

Is there a way to fix this, or should I just me buying a new controler? Looking at the back of the controler nothing moves back and forth for the gear cable when you engage forward and reverse. Any help would be ceratainly appreciated.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

The shift cable may have come unhooked or is broken inside the control box. Disassemble it and have a look. If the cable is attached and not broken, there are some controller mechanical issues.
 
diaric

diaric

Chief Petty Officer
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Jul 8, 2006
Messages
532
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

links arn't working
 
S

Singing Boat Guy

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 22, 2007
Messages
47
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

hmm no they are no. I will have to find a place to post them to get them on here.
 
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Dreddrs25

Cadet
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
10
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

Not trying to hijack your thread. Having a somewhat similar problem.

I was out yesterday and my outboard pulled itself out of gear. I adjusted the "friction" screw and now it is really tight in reverse (which still engages) and really loose in forward (will not engage). It was grinding a little immediately after it came out of gear, but ever since I messed with the throttle it won't even try to engage into forward.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

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Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

The friction screw only adjusts throttle lever friction. It has nothing to do with gear selection. You either have a cable adjustment issue, a worn or stretched cable issue, something is afoul in the control box, or you have some clutch dogs in the lower unit that are worn. Disconnect the shift cable at the engine and shift it manually. If it shifts normally and stays in gear, you have isolated the problem to the cables and controller. If it still jumps out of gear, get out your wallet.
 
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Dreddrs25

Cadet
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
10
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

Silvertip said:
Disconnect the shift cable at the engine and shift it manually. If it shifts normally and stays in gear, you have isolated the problem to the cables and controller. If it still jumps out of gear, get out your wallet.
Click to expand...

When I had the engine cover off, I would see the shift cable moving forward and backward. Is the place where the cable is bolted to the engine where I need to manually try and engage forward? I am not sure were to pull/push. I am really hoping it is a cable issue and not a gear problem.

If it is the worst case scenario, what would be the most to replace? Would I have to replace the entire LU?
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Gear changing problems...please help

Yes -- disconnect the cable. Then push and pull on the point where the cable was attached to go into reverse or forward. Do this well away from shore so you have plenty of room to move about and by all means have someone with you to either steer or do the shifting. As for lower unit damage, the clutch dogs can be replaced. If the corresponding dogs on the forward and reverse gears are also damaged, it can get expensive. The cause is most often due to operator error in that drivers tend to "slide" the unit into forward or reverse. This causes the grinding or ratcheting noise you hear when shifting and which rounds off the sharp edges of the clutch and gear dogs. Always move the throttle lever "sharply" so the gears engage quickly.
 
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