No more reverse???

[Sierafox]

A quick scenario and a question from a new boat owner: When I bought the boat ('69 Fabuglas Trihull with a 65HP Mercury O/B) the trim on the O/B was all the way the up. I was able to chug forward but not very fast and just barely was able to pull the boat backwards. At the advise of the local Marina mechanic, I put the trim on the O/B all the way down and the speed of the boat quadrupled but now I have no reverse at all. It makes it a real pain in the butt getting backed away from the trailer if the current is pushing. I have to use oars to push myself away from the ramp. I asked a friend on mine to take a look and the reverse works fine out of the water with a garden hose and a clam. He told me my prop was wore out and there's nothing wrong with the motor. (I don't know what the pitch ratio on the prop is supposed to be because it's been ground to make it smaller or to take out dings and dents Maybe???) Can the prop really be the problem. Just need some advise before I go spend a couple of hundred $$$ on a prop I don't need...

 

[rndn]

Re: No more reverse???

If your prop has been chewed up and ground down to take out dings, you need a new prop. Whether or not the prop is not allowing you to reverse, I don't know. Just because the motor clicks into reverse on the muffs does not guarantee it is fully engaging in reverse when in the water. If the prop is pushing the boat forward there is no reason it would not also perform the same in reverse.

 

[steelespike]

Re: No more reverse???

There is a reverse lock down that activates in reverse perhaps lowering the trim jammed it preventing getting into reverse.
keeping it out of reverse.You can see it down near the the trim rod.You may be able to trace it to the trouble.if power trim, raise it a little see if it frees reverse or manual trim raise it a notch.As suggested get your prop repaired before it damages the lower unit.