Reverse Lock Unlocked

[Kiekhaefer]

I just picked up a Mark 35a and have it lying on it's back in my apartment. I noticed that when the motor is shifted into forward and neutral that the reverse lock mechanism is locked. When I shift the motor into reverse it unlocks.

I do not own a service manual YET but I was curious to know why this may be the way it is? Seems to me maybe someone put it together wrong or could it be a missing part or worse?

Thanks

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: Reverse Lock Unlocked

I am not sure you could put it together backwards. Just for clarification, I think that when you move the shift lever, to the rear of the motor, that is forward, and when you pull it towards you that is reverse. In neutral the motor is locked down.

 

[Kiekhaefer]

Re: Reverse Lock Unlocked

Yeah, that's right. Lever Back=forward, Lever Forwards=reverse. I understand that the motor would be locked down in forward gear incase you ran over a log or something but I always thought that the lock down mechanism was unlocked in neutral as well for tilting the motor for trailering. I guess not though.

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: Reverse Lock Unlocked

The motor should be locked down in reverse, to stop the motor from "popping" out of the water, while increasing throtle. I am not sure why they lock in neutral, except to help with pullstarting, maybe. It should be free in forward, so it can pop up, if it hits something, to lessen the chance's of damage.