LU -- From Bad to Worse?

[Oldsaltydog]

1998 Force 90HP otboard. Worked on the seals and gaskets today. Inserted the lower unit back up. Shifter handle and cable moved enough but would not shift the gear out of forward. (LU is supposed to be dropped in forward in this case.) Dropped lower unit again. Shift rod turned freely back and forth (and up and down) without changing gear. Is something just out of place or have a broken something? What do you think?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: LU -- From Bad to Worse?

So are you saying with the lower unit off the motor you can not shift gears with the shift linkage? If so you probably busted the pivot pin. Not sure how a force works but on a chrysler there is a pin buy the pivit pin that when it breaks you can not shift. Hope this aint the case for you because it means taking the whole thing apart

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: LU -- From Bad to Worse?

Thanks for the note EL. My manuals are sketchy on the subject, but looks like the shift linkage rod is connected to a shift cam. The two may have become disengaged. If so, as you say, everything may have to be pulled out along the propshaft, for which I probably do not have the equipment or the knowhow. Drats!!! Now what?

 

[scotiany]

Re: LU -- From Bad to Worse?

If your LU is like Chrysler, it's not that bad to reinstall the pivot screw. But, you'll have to split the Upper and lower sections of the LU to do it. At any rate you'll have to get in there to see if the pin is serviceable.