Have I majorly goofed?!

[parsleap]

Took apart the control box on my 1975 85HP Evinrude to check and see that the ignition switch was still good. It's fine. However, there is a spring-loaded ball bearing in there that provides the positions for neutral and what-not; anyway, the ball bearing came bouncing out when I pulled the thing apart, and now I have no idea how to compress the spring and hold it in when I put the thing back together. Any words of wisdom?<br />Frustrated,<br />AP

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Have I majorly goofed?!

AP..... Simply remove the plate that covers the spring and ball, lay the ball in there so that it is also in the groove of the drum, then having the spring on the ball at an angle, use a small screwdriver or some such object to help you slide the spring down in that compartment. Hold the spring there and replace the plate/cover.

 

[parsleap]

Re: Have I majorly goofed?!

Thanks for your help Joe.... I got the spring back in. I hadn't taken the drum out of the top half of the housing, so until you said something about it, I didn't realize I could. Once I did that it all clicked!<br />Thanks again for the help!<br />AP

 

[NolaZach]

Re: Have I majorly goofed?!

I did the same thing.

I just don't understand the instructions to fix it. What drum? I can get the bearing in place and the spring and then the cover but then I can't get to the screw to get it back in. It is driving me nuts, such a bad design. I am thinking of doing without, I can't see what it does anyway.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Have I majorly goofed?!

it is the indent for the shifter, so you feel when it is in neutral. drum round part the handle moves, that moves the cables.