Merc 650 stuck in forward

[Mnace01]

I have a '75 Mercury 650 that I recently purchased and replaced the impeller. I put the engine in forward before removing the lower end, but when putting the lower end back on I shifted it into neutral to get the lower end to slide all the way up. Now neutral is forward. How to I get this solved now? I have dropped the lower numerous times and tried different forward to reverse to neutral combinations but it seems to just be stuck in forward, now I have no idea what is going on.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Merc 650 stuck in forward

Drop the gearcase. Set the gearcase to neutral. it will click into and stay in neutral. Now set merControl to neutral and reassemble.

 

[Mnace01]

Re: Merc 650 stuck in forward

When I drop the lower unit how do i set it to neutral? This is my first outboard, so I am kind of learning on the fly.

 

[Gomer50]

Re: Merc 650 stuck in forward

With a pair off pliers (be carefull not to damage the splines) rotate the shift shaft (click) so when the prop spins freely both ways thats neutral.

 

[Mnace01]

Re: Merc 650 stuck in forward

Thanks!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Merc 650 stuck in forward

Turn the shift shaft CCW to get to neutral.