Merc 1000 has No Reverse

[leviwynnyk]

First time poster long time reader. I am really stumped and looking for the wisdom of the people on this board. I looked through the history and while I found people with similar problems, I couldn't find a definite answer. <br /><br />2 Days ago I was out on the water and had the idle set high as the boat was warming up. I put the engine into reverse and it made some noise and reved up really high. Now it won't shift into reverse at all. When you shift it back into reverse it doesn't click or anything but it does rev up. Then when you shift it back forward it clicks into neutral and forward. I am stumped. I looked at all the cables and everythign seems fine. The whole boat isn't worth too much and I am planning to sell it soon so I need to get it fixed for as cheap as possible.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for the help.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Merc 1000 has No Reverse

It sounds like a bad shift shaft if the linkage at the top of the shaft where the cable attachs is moving, drop the lower unit and see if it shifts with it out of the engine, look for stripped splines or a twisted or broken shaft

 

[leviwynnyk]

Re: Merc 1000 has No Reverse

Thanks a lot Laddies! You seem to be one of the most knowledgeable people around when it comes to these motors. I am fairly mecanically inclined and do most if not all repairs on the boat/car/quad but I have never "dropped" the lower unit before. Is it something I can tackle myslefy without any speciality tools? Do you know of any good websites about it? I purchased a Shop manual but it doesn't cover my exact model of motor (I thought mine was a 70's but now I think its from way back in the 60's.<br /><br />Thanks so much for the reply and advice. <br /><br />P.S. If it is a bad shaft, are they expensive or hard to come by?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Merc 1000 has No Reverse

To drop the lower unit, mark the trim tab position (scrach the under surface with a screwdriver to mark it's position)then go thru the hole above the tab and loosen the bolt to remove the tab (it could be 5/16 or 3/8 allen head or 1/2 bolt head depends on the year) underneath the tab remove the 1 nut ( Next remove the 2 nuts under the cavitation plate (5/8),1 in the front (5/8) and 2 more 1 on each side (5/8).