Linkage problem

[johnnynegaunee]

I just put in a newer 3.0L Merc. into my '72 Starcraft, greased up the fittings in the outdrive and reattached it. I have the older R drive with the lift ring, anyway it shifted fine in the driveway with the muffs. Then I lifted the drive, drove 3 miles to marina launch, put it in the water, lowered the drive, started the engine and now I only have forward and neutral. Can this era drive linkage be affected by position? I hate to take the outdrive back off if it is not the source of the prob. Is there a clip that holds the cable slider and the little shift lever together there in the housing between the gimbal and the outdrive.

Thanks for your input.

John

 

[Muqwump]

Re: Linkage problem

What drive do you have and does it stall out when you put into reverse or just doesnt go into gear?

 

[Don S]

Re: Linkage problem

I have the older R drive with the lift ring,

My guess at this point is the cable may need adjusting since you had things apart. When that happens it could also mean you need a new lower shift cable.
Of course if the shift slider missed the lever, that would cause it not to shift, but it would happen on muffs also.

 

[johnnynegaunee]

Re: Linkage problem

Thanks Don. I thought I was golden when it shifted OK in the driveway. I worried about the position of the roller and notch when I reattached it, since you can't see the last inch or so. I watched as far as I could, and it looked OK. Have you ever had one jump out of the notch in the last inch? It does not look like there is room in the housing for that to occur.

While playing with it again in the driveway a few minutes ago with my son moving the shift lever, I can feel the shift rod pivot from forward to neutral but nothing from neutral to reverse. I can also lift up on this rod, it has some play. This I did by sticking my fingers in gap in forward edge of the housing. If it's in forward on removal and the prop unknowing gets spun clockwise could this cause this? But it did work in the yard through several cycles.

 

[Don S]

Re: Linkage problem

Have you ever had one jump out of the notch in the last inch? It does not look like there is room in the housing for that to occur.

Not in the last 2 weeks :redface: Mechanical things tend to put you in your place when you know you was doing it right. I was actually showing a trainee how to install the drive. The good news is, we put the drive on with 2 nuts only. Then shift it thru the gears F, N, and R twice. Just to make sure. If it doesn't work, you don't loose all the time taking everything back apart the second time.

 

[johnnynegaunee]

Re: Linkage problem

I hear you, this is why I was worried to have to push such a heavy object(outdrive) while I hoped those two small lightweight linkage components kind of hover there together. Also it did work well 3-4 trips through F,N,R in the driveway.

I tried adjusting the linkage, but that seems not to have any effect.

I can put a finger into that gap in the housing in the forward edge of the R drive housing. Feeling around and when it's in reverse, I can twist the linkage slightly CCW(looking down from the top) and then the prop will engage. This must be pretty slight though as sometimes all I get is a clicking sound.

 

[johnnynegaunee]

Re: Linkage problem

Got more info. When I crawl under the drive and look up I see that the top of the shift shaft does not quite engage into the channel lever shift linkage from the upper half of the out drive. If I hold it up into the channel it seems to shift fine (me turning the prop). So does the shift shaft have a spring to hold it up that is missing or broken? Or does the upper linkage need to come down a bit?(jambed up by dirt, corrosion, and/or wear). I do have a '74 Merc. manual, but can't seem to see anything like this listed in the diagrams and paragraphs.
Thanks,
John

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Linkage problem

If the "shoe" is not fully up in the "channel" then that means that something is missing. It isn't a spring, it is a washer. There is supposed to be a washer under the shift shaft. If it is left out, you will have the problem you describe.

Here's a picture of where the washer is supposed to be:

 

[johnnynegaunee]

Re: Linkage problem

Thank you Fishermark, It looks like you have pointed me to the root of my problem. Is the rubber washer a seal or just a bumper/spacer for the shaft? The reason I ask is that I put an O-ring figure 8 style over the top of the shaft, below the shoe and then over the channel. This is holding the joint together nice here in the yard. I can't see anything that will shear or wear this O-ring through the range of travel the shaft makes.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Linkage problem

Thank you Fishermark, It looks like you have pointed me to the root of my problem. Is the rubber washer a seal or just a bumper/spacer for the shaft? The reason I ask is that I put an O-ring figure 8 style over the top of the shaft, below the shoe and then over the channel. This is holding the joint together nice here in the yard. I can't see anything that will shear or wear this O-ring through the range of travel the shaft makes.

I don't remember the purpose of the rubber washer to be honest. But since you need to get the stainless washer anyway, why not pickup the rubber washer while you're at it?

But having said that, I truly don't remember the rubber washer, nor its purpose.