removed lower unit now wheres nuteral?

[bamboo17]

removed lower unit last night and put in a impeller, put in on and off in nuteral

ran it tonight and im finding nuteral about 1/2 in in the reverse position, I did have to undo the cable where it splits with thread to remove lower unit,, is it just adjusting or what, ive tried moving the nuts on the cable where it splits back and fourth but nuetral clicks and clicks noise from engine unless i move the lever and wiggle it more in the reverse area for prop to sit still and not click noise
help what do i do

 

[john from md]

Re: removed lower unit now wheres nuteral?

Disconnect the shift cable and do the following.

1. While turning the prop by hand clockwise, move the shift arm on the motor to the rear till it stops. This is forward. Mark the shift rod where it meets the motor leg with a felt tip pen.

2. While turning the prop by hand counter clockwise, move the shift arm on the motor forward till it stops. This is reverse. Mark the shift rod where it meets the motor leg with a felt tip pen.

3. Center the shift rod between the two marks and make a third mark. This is neutral. Leave the shift lever in this position and adjust the shift cable until the shift connector is centered on the connector stud. When it is, tighten the cable lock nut, hook up the cable to the stud and wallah, you are finished.

Regards,

John

 

[bamboo17]

Re: removed lower unit now wheres nuteral?

shift arm? to the rear?? dude im lost

 

[pnwboat]

Re: removed lower unit now wheres nuteral?

Item 15 in the diagram is the shift rod. It moves up and down to shift from forward, neutral and reverse. It is threaded into a coupler (#13) inside the lower leg. Make sure it's turned tight into the coupler. Don't loosen it or you will be in trouble. Since you have a 1997 40HP, I'm assuming it's a Mercury lower end. There should be a way to adjust the up and down movement of the rod. Disconnect the rod at the top. Pull it all the way up. That should be reverse (I think). Put a mark on the rod with a sharpie so that you can reference the mark against part of the engine block or something. Now push it all the way down. That should be forward. Put another reference mark on the rod. Halfway between the two marks should be neutral. Mark the halfway point. Make sure your throttle is in Neutral. Adjust the linkage so that the middle mark lines up with your reference point and reconnect the rod at the top.

http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury_parts/1696/16.cfm