Mercury lower unit crossover

[RUSSELL613]

M daughter has a 21' pontoon boat, with a 60 HP 1997 mercury 60ELPTO S# 0G532653 Tracker big foot, It seems to have lost reverse, forward and neutral are fine but in reverse it will back up with a low idle only, with any more throttle it just clicks, no movement. I took the cables loose and moved the sifter to forward and it was engaged, to neutral every thing free, to reverse it would click where it should lock. I don't see where anymore adjustment can be made, I was looking to locate another lower unit that I could replace it with but see a lot of units around in Pensacola but cannot find a reference on line that would give me any units that would be a direct crossover, i am sure this is a 20" shaft. any guidance out here can help.

 

[Faztbullet]

This BF unit may fit.. need to remove yours so you can compare shaft size and spline count

https://mobile.craigslist.org/bpo/d/bayou-la-batre-40-mercury-big-foot/7123819989.html

 

[RUSSELL613]

Thank you for the reply, I am wanting to pull the lower unit but was waiting until my manual gets here, the approximate measurement I stated was with the transom measurement from transom mount to cavitation plate.

 

[RUSSELL613]

Found out something else, engine has been rebuilt, I was thinking, is it possible that the shifting splines did not line up or not be in the proper position when the powerhead was reinstalled? This is just a thought, I noticed that the shifter cable is adjusted as far back as it can be, still waiting on the manual.

 

[RUSSELL613]

Can a lower unit be installed in the wrong shift position?

 

[RUSSELL613]

Can a lower unit be installed in the wrong shift position?

 

[RUSSELL613]

Update, I still haven't received my manual, was sent the wrong one, the question I am facing now is what position should the shift shaft on the lower unit be in when removed? I had the shifter on the boat in the full forward position, after I dropped the lower unit I noticed that the lower unit shifter has a lot of free space to move after the shift is made, so where should it be placed prior to reinstalling the lower unit? I can put it in the forward position but I am not sure just where that would be.

 

[RUSSELL613]

Just another note, after I dropped the lower unit and turned the shifter into reverse it seemed to hold locked in.

 

[RUSSELL613]

Got another brainstorm, what if I reinstall the lower unit in neutral and turn the flywheel to align the splines? That way I know just where forward and reverse will be in relation to the boat shifter. I have to pickup the impeller this afternoon and install it first.

 

[ahicks]

Doesn't this lower unit have a coupler between the upper and lower shift shafts? One that must be disconnected in order to drop the lower unit?

If so, and that has been installed improperly, that could cause the issue you are describing

 

[RUSSELL613]

Not that I know of, it slid right out. I don't have the manual yet, expecting it this coming week. I think it was installed in the wrong position but won't know until I reinstall it. I am fixing to go pick up the impeller right now.

 

[flyingscott]

If it has the rotary shifter. When you install the lower unit the motor and the lower must both be in the same gear.

 

[RUSSELL613]

Ok, another update, I changed the impeller, checked shift position, put it in neutral then put the boat shifter in neutral. Then I installed the lower unit and held it in place with a ratchet strap made sure all three points of contact were aligned, tightened up on the strap, when I met resistance I turned the flywheel by hand saw the lower unit slide in place, installed all bolts. I checked the shifting locked in forward and reverse, it didn't click and not grab as it did earlier, I have a good lock in. I put the muffs on connected the water hose and started the engine, all seems to be functioning as it should, as soon as I get the new plugs in it will be time for a test run. I will keep you posted and I thank you all for your input.

 

[RUSSELL613]

Looks like I will need a lower unit, haven't found many near Pensacola but will keep looking, couldn't find the message from the person in Panama City.