Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

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Dartboy

Seaman
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
61
My mercury 4hp Ser No 9239423 is stuck in gear.<br />The lever clicks forward and back to engage and out of gear, but it stays in gear.<br /><br />Any clues as to what the problem maybe and what to do to rectify it??<br /><br />Also what year is the motor??
 
S

Spidybot

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 4, 2002
Messages
1,734
Re: Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

Sounds as if the shifter linkage is broken or somehow come apart.<br /><br />The lever is connected to links that, in it's turn, moves the gears in the lower unit.<br /><br />Take a close look to see if things are moving. If not, you have to remove the the lower unit.<br /><br />For this task (and many other), a manual will come handy and save you several times the cost of it.
 
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Dartboy

Seaman
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May 2, 2004
Messages
61
Re: Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

Thanks for that, I'll check it out the weekend.<br /><br />Anyone have any info of its year of manufacture??
 
D

Dartboy

Seaman
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
61
Re: Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

I have'nt had chance to do anything yet with the problem, as my other duties was called for doing DIY for my beloved.<br /><br />The engine label is saying it was made in Belgium. I don't know if the list @ Marineparts.com applies to the US engines only or overseas aswell.<br /><br />Can anyone confirm this please.
 
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Paul Moir

Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2002
Messages
6,847
Re: Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

Dartboy - Is that a 2 cylinder 4hp? I get 1979 for that engine at Marinshopen, click on Modellguide. This is the one with only forward and neutral right?<br /><br />If it is, I fixed up one of them for my brother to use on his sailboat. When I removed the shift-shaft for a visual inspection, it was almost worn through where it contacted the driveshaft. Everything is *really* close inside the Gnat's midsection.<br />Your first task should be to drop the lower unit so you can confirm that the shift shaft is intact and operating on the lower unit. There is no shift shaft coupling - just remove the two L/U nuts and the shift shaft should pull out whole from the lower unit.<br /><br />Tell us what you find!
 
D

Dartboy

Seaman
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
61
Re: Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

Please could somebody supply a diagram of the lower unit.
 
D

Dartboy

Seaman
Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
61
Re: Mercury 4hp - stuck in gear

Ok if no one has no drawings or a copy of a picture of the lower unit drive assembly. <br /><br />Could anyone explain how the clutch works, because everything looks and works OK with the rod going into the lower unit.<br /><br />Another problem I have now is that I cannot undo the Nut assembly hold the output shaft into the lower unit case, to remove the gear and clutch assembly. Should it be really that tight??
 
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