Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Just another question related to the neutral switch that was in the old merc control, the new 2 lever UFlex remote control I bought only has hook up for the throttle and shift cable...just how do I get the neutral switch wired and mounted so the boat can only start when it is in neutral??

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Can you post a model# for that controller? It would help to take a look at what you have.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Well guys I have the UFLEX B47, called manufacturer and spoke with techician and appears this contorller does not have room to support a Neutra Safety switch. Trying to send back for refund and get the correct one which would be Uflex B89/90 with a K35 connection kit for the cables.

Sidenote, did make it out on the water all weekend with this control...was carefull with the starting and stopping with out the neutral switch. Engine is working great, on a cold start just need to choke it a bit and then your off to the races. Forward gear does not appear to be slipping or any issues, reverse still does not work and will tear into that once the weather changes here.

Am stopping at boat store today to see if I can order a new solenoid for the electronic choke as right now need to manual choke it which is a real pain as you need to take the top engine cover off everytime. Do you guys know if that is all there really is to the electronic choke (solenoid) or are there other things I should order...just did a guick visual check.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

And just another question on the neutral safety switch, as I am not using the old merc control but this one temporary, the switch I have moutnted into a panel near the controls and the rest (neutral safety switch, choke, and tach connector) I have taped up and tucked behind. As I can start the boat without pushing in on the neutral safety switch does that mean this switch is a normally closed or normally open type switch?

 

[zorak]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

i would assume normally open on the switch.As far as the choke solenoid goes other than the actual solenoid there is only the wiring and of course the switch for the solenoid.It should only be one wire going to the solenoid as it should be grounded to the motor.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Thanks Zorak.

I found this wiring diagram which I belive covers my motor....

http://www.maxrules.com/oldmercs/Wiring/1966ona/30.gif

So if I was to wire an inline kill switch into the remote control wire harness side, would this be correct:
Splice

1. Splice into Cavity D (Black Wire) and connect to one end of kill switch
2. Splice in Cavity E )tan wire) and connector to one end of kill switch

To verify ,
1. When the Kill switch clip is pulled out, it should complete the circut D-E, killing the motor.
2. The motor should not be able to start unless the Kill Switch clip is put back in.
3. When the Kill Switch clip is put back in, the motor should start and run as usual.

Now for the neutral safety switch the yellow wire (Cavity B) goes thru the neutral switch and based upon my current observations that the boat will start without pushing in the switch (I just need to turn the key) I would assume that in neutral it would be normally closed while if you push the controls into reverse or forward the switch will be depressed in thus opening the circuit.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Another option for the kill switch, would it also work if I placed the kill switch inline with the white (Cavity F) that goes to the switch block on the motor? This white wire I belive is carrying 12 + VDC to the switch block from the key switch in the "On" and "Start" postion. So if the lanyard is pulled out which opens the curcuit the motor will shut down nor will you be able to start?

Here is the diagram again. http://www.maxrules.com/oldmercs/Wiring/1966ona/30.gif

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Looks like you've pretty much got it figured out. Lets get back to the reverse issue for a moment. Does it slip, make a ratcheting noise , or you just have no reverse period?

 

[zorak]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

I concur with Wingedwheel.I think you have the wiring figured out and am curious about your reverse issues.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Just a quick update on the choke solenoid, it has good continuity also tried it with a power supply and works fine, also checked the wire runs and they are all fine as well so all I did was wire up a new momentary switch and I am back n business.

Now for the reverse gear, was thinking about this during my drive to work today and right now there is no reverser. Meaning I can shift into forward gear easily but when I move the shifter back on the remote control to go to reverse it is almost likes something is blocking or interfereinng as there is just no way I can force it without probably breaking the lever itself.

As well when the lower unit was off on the bench, if I put a pair of vice grips on the shifter I could get it into reverse but this was really putting some muscle and forcing it and feels like almost doing more damage.

Only thing I can think of is the cam is damaged and prevents the cam follower from riding to the highest point on the cam(which I believe is where reverse would be but probably wrong?). But like Wingedwheel mentioned before this should not really make it difficult only that the reverse will not engage. So not sure what to try or what parts to start looking for.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

You'll pretty much have to open up the gearcase to see whats happening there. It sounds more like a binding issue than a worn cam. Keep us posted.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

What things could be causing binding? Or what to look for, as did have the prop shaft assembly pulled out where I could see the shift cam and without the follower in place I could spin it freely (as there is no follower pushing on it so makes sense). Did see groove worn pretty good where the follower rides but nothing major at least from my untrained perspective. lol

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

A worn cam should not make it hard to turn IMHO, but I've never had that particular problem. Did the PO ever have the LU apart? I'm wondering if he did and put the cam in upside down. Its a common mistake and can cause problems. If I'm not mistaken, I believe there is a flat edge and a rounded edge on the cam. The rounded edge should go up. If the cam was worn down too far it would still work, but would not push the follower in far enough and cause ratcheting, but you would still get a smoother movement than you describe. Because PO's tend to "omit" information about what they've done it makes finding a problem more challenging.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

The PO is actually a buddy so need to talk with him but I know that he never had the lower unit off, he had the boat for two seasons and the reverse just went on it. About the only things he ever did on the engine was winterize, change spark plugs, and change the gear oil.

Could another potential issue be the reverse lock out rod and how it interacts withs the reverse cam at the top of lower unit. Some sor of interference here even though when the lower unit was off it was still hard to get into reverse. Maybe did not line the splines up perfectly and are off 1 or 2 splines causing some binding?

Going to also check the cable on the powerhead and see how it is moving.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

That shouldn't matter as the shaft has no set position until you install the cam. I know you said the shaft was bent. Eve if you straightened it that could be a possibility if it has a small "kink" that interferes with the clutch-dog. When going into FWD its a spring assisted action, when going into REV its spring opposed if that makes sense. Something has to be in a slight bind. How did the shaft get bent?

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Atually this shaft I am using is only out about .005", the other lower unit I have has the bent shaft.

Ya not sure where this binding action is taking place.

 

[merc850]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

According to Mercury's operating instructions " the motor should not be shifted into reverse unless it is running", you could also turn the prop while someone shifts the gears while not running.

 

[wguttrid]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

Thanks Merc850, problem is even when the engine is running I can not shift it into reverse.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Help re: Bent Shaft on Merc 850

It looks like it has been another month since this thread was lasted posted, hopefully this has been resolved.

Drop the lower unit and take a look at the reverse lock cam that is on the top of the gearcase. Sometimes this cam gets a groove worn into it creating quite a big ''step' in what was originally a smooth ramp. This can cause tremendous difficulty shifting into reverse.