Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

[onehunglow]

I have a 1987 Evinrude 70hp<br />The motor starts right up runs fine but dies when shifting from forward to reverse! <br /><br />This is no minor problem since you need to do this to quickly reduce speed while approaching a dock.<br /><br />The motor runs very well and has a great "punch" when pulling waterskiers out of the water so it doesn't seem to be a tuning/spark or ignition problem.<br /><br />Anybody have any as to what this might be?

 

[E120B]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

Sounds Like your idle is to low

 

[onehunglow]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

That sounds like a pretty good reason. Is the idle adjusted on the motor or in the control box?

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

set screw on the side of the motor

 

[onehunglow]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

Makes sense. What exactly is the "fast-idle" bar on the side on the control box do? Is this a "choke"? or just increases the throttle without putting the motor in gear?

 

[Brew2]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

Option #2 would be correct...just increases engine RPM while not in gear. Choke is typically activated by pushing in on the key.<br /><br />Cheers.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

If that's not it, check your idle mixture screws on each Carb. Turn them equally out 2 turns from a lightly seated position. Could be running lean at idle. Does sound like your idle speed is low though...

 

[onehunglow]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

Pushing in on the key? This adjusts choke? How does this work? And if I push in on the key to activate choke, how do I release the choke?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

It's only activated while you're pushing in on the key.<br />And, I must ask, just how fast are you coming into the dock that shifting into reverse is manditory....If you still have good fwd motion when you shift to rev., yes, it's going to kill the eng. beings the water-flow is still trying to drive the prop in the fwd rotation. If it's not dying when you shift to fwd from neutral, I don't think idle speed is the issue.

 

[onehunglow]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

No, I am not approaching the dock that fast. And the engine actually dies it seems going to neutral come to think of it, not the actual shift to reverse. <br /><br />BTW, my dock is a boat lift with a narrow entrance - you have to get it right or end up banging the sides, so sometimes I need to reverse to re-adjust any drift that may have occurred due to winds, waves, etc

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

Got a Tach on there? What are your idle RPM's in gear unrestricted on the water? What is your neutral idle RPM's.. My 90' 70 HP idles at about 950-1000 RPM's in gear at idle and between 1000-1050 in neutral. Not much change, but it's smooth and it works fine.. This of course depends on the prop you are using and the type of boat it's pushing.. Give the idle screw one turn and see what happens...

 

[onehunglow]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

well - good reason to get a tach! I need to find the low idle screw - so I ordered a Seloc manual<br /><br />The prop is the standard one with the boat and the boat is a 16 foot Sunray. This problem occurs whether I have 1 person in the boat or 5. <br /><br />Besides the stalling problem, the motor starts immediately, runs great and doesn't miss, stumble or give any other problems - do you think this problem can be caused by the force of the water against the propeller switching directions?

 

[fireproducts100]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

im going with rick on this one my 77 evinrude had the same problem i turn the idle up a hair and the problem was solved and on the subject of the water againsted the propeller i don't think thats a the problem the idle should be on the drivers side of the engine close to the carbs turn it clockwise just a hair that should do the trick

 

[fireproducts100]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

im going with rick on this one my 77 evinrude had the same problem i turn the idle up a hair and the problem was solved and on the subject of the water againsted the propeller i don't think thats a the problem the idle should be on the drivers side of the engine close to the carbs turn it clockwise just a hair that should do the trick

 

[tangent]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

I had the exact same problem with the idle set too low. Very stressful!!

 

[onehunglow]

Re: Motor dies shifting from forward to reverse (like brakes failing!)

Yes - especially when you need to slow down!!