Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

[wardfamid]

We have a mercruiser 140 i/o. We took off the bottom of the outdrive and replaced the water pump. So we put the lower unit back on and changed oil. We then took it out on the lake and tried to back up, but it didnt shift into gear, it just revved the engine up when we pulled the throttle back. It used to go into gear just fine, now it doesn't even try. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

Do you have the manual?
Did you have the control box and lower unit in fwd during assembly?

 

[fastempo]

Re: Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

You didn't keep the propeller tight towards clockwise, during the impeller installation,
so now the shift lever between upper and lower out-drive units is in the wrong position.
You'll have to take them apart again,(after you drain all the out-drive gear lube),
and correctly position the shift lever, when in neutral. Straight forward.
Happened to me also,first time I took drives apart.
Good luck, and don't forget, you learn a lot each time something goes wrong.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

Several possibilities, but to me it sounds like you forgot the washer on top of the shift shaft in the lower unit. Look underneath and see if the "shoe" is mating in its slot. I suspect you will find it has dropped out. That's because the washer is missing. You will need to drop the lower a little bit to replace the washer. (If that's the problem). The one pictured here:

 

[wardfamid]

Re: Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

I went out there 5 minutes after I posted the thread and I found out the shift shaft wasn't aligned with the shoe coupler. The boat shifts into gear and runs great now. I guess you guys were right, thanks for the help.

 

[peter paul]

Re: Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

I went out there 5 minutes after I posted the thread and I found out the shift shaft wasn't aligned with the shoe coupler. The boat shifts into gear and runs great now. I guess you guys were right, thanks for the help.

how do align the shift shaft do you have pictures

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Replaced water pump, now wont go into gear

Hi Peter Paul... This thread is too old to post to (The original problem was solved for the original poster....please read the instructions at top of the forum).... If you start a new thread, you will get all the help you need! (probably more than you need...but that's the beauty of these forums) Best of luck! (by the way....make sure you have a good manual... it will show all).