Quick question... dryshifting reverse?

[USAFitz]

I just have a really quick question that I couldn't find an answer to on here. What happens when you dry shift into reverse and why is it bad? Thanks again.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Quick question... dryshifting reverse?

First it depends on the HP and year of the engine, if the engine falls into the wrong group the engines upper shift shaft could be twisted if the flat sided cam on the shift dog and the flat cam on the gear line up and the engine is not running or someone is not rotating the prop by hand

 

[USAFitz]

Re: Quick question... dryshifting reverse?

mine's a '71 Mercury 650. I was just curious because I had seen it so many times on the forum, and I've actually done it to mine a couple of times.

so it sounds like the shifting arm would bend. Mine has always gone right into gear so it sounds like those times I did it didn't hurt it. But I won't do it in the future none the less. Thanks for the info.