gearshift advise on 78 ish 70 hp lower unit

[glenn property of pam]

83 70hp with a pre 78 lower unit (keyed water pump not wedge so guessing pre 78) when i shift forwards or reverse it taps/knocks a few times that i can fell in the shifter before it engages. the tick over is just under 900 rpm and i shift slowly. it never slips out of gear (read lots of forum before i wrote this). shift cables are nearly new. also does this if you try to engage gears while on ears but the taps/knocks are very gentle.

so i guess my question is what should the shift fell like?. on my 120 1984 the gear shift seems smooth as silk which makes me think that the 70hp tick over is to high or theres something worn that needs to be looked at.

 

[mark1961]

Re: gearshift advise on 78 ish 70 hp lower unit

Shifting slowly is a no no actually.....you want to shift reasonably quickly in a smooth continuous motion.....the less clashing of the clutch dogs with the gears you feel the better, this would be what you are feeling through the shifter (completely normal) but you dont want to let it happen for too long.....if you are seeing around 700/750 rpm in the water in gear you are about right.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: gearshift advise on 78 ish 70 hp lower unit

(laughing) yep i need drivers ed. i will see if i can drop a few more rpm with out getting to the point where the motor likes to stall when shifting (especially when cold) as my driving skills while docking kinda sucks.

 

[mark1961]

Re: gearshift advise on 78 ish 70 hp lower unit

Try docking against the prevailing current.....works for me.