Only Reverse on a 140 Evinrude 1978 interchangability of lower units with late model

[iloveketchup]

After repowering my boat with a new motor I finally took it out on the water today. Fail! When going into forward all i could get is reverse.

I disconnected the shift cables in the water and tried to manually shift through gears but again no luck.

I'm worried that a week before i was out doing final cable adjustment checks without the steering connected and when rev'ing the engine it drifted to the side and "tinked" a cynder block. (assistant said area clear). The prop appears correct (right hand).

Shift cables are brand spanking new.

Potential causes/fixes?

- did they make a reverse gearcase? (replace lower unit or potentially prop)
- sheared mechanical in lower unit (replace/rebuild lower unit)

I have a later model 1985 looper. Is the lower unit interchangable with a 1978 crossflow? I'm noticing the shift rod is a little different on drawings. Will that make it not work?

1978 lower (pic from shop.johnson site)



1985 lower



Thanks in advance

 

[emoney]

Re: Only Reverse on a 140 Evinrude 1978 interchangability of lower units with late m

If it does work, you'll have to use your shift rod, which means you've got to figure a way to disconnect the old one and reconnect the new one. That's the "don't touch" screw on the lower unit. You've probably diagnosed your problem, however, because the top part of the shift cable is entirely different. That linkage change I'd suspect would cause your shifting problems.

 

[iloveketchup]

Re: Only Reverse on a 140 Evinrude 1978 interchangability of lower units with late m

If it does work, you'll have to use your shift rod, which means you've got to figure a way to disconnect the old one and reconnect the new one. That's the "don't touch" screw on the lower unit. You've probably diagnosed your problem, however, because the top part of the shift cable is entirely different. That linkage change I'd suspect would cause your shifting problems.

thanks for the reply. I'm not quite following your response though. "don't touch screw"? I see the shift rod going into something under a plate in the lower unit. Is that "don't touch" screw under there? I've already got the donor lower unit off, the rod is completely different at the top however i don't see why it couldn't be swapped?

However, i am noticing a difference on the two units. If you look at the back of the lower unit near where both diagrams label "1", notice there is two bolt holes on the later and only 1 on the older? Also there is a little more aluminum flush with the mid section (dimensions may be different). Hm....

I'm leaning towards this won't work but would like someone that really really really knows before i start ripping more than i've done yet apart.