Rough shift

[VinceJE]

1996 225EFI Merc

This is something that has bothered me a bit since I bought the boat a year ago... It seems that shifting into gear (fwd or rev) seems to be rougher than I see others as being. Maybe it's just me. This is the first time I've had a 225. It just seems to clunk a bit louder and be a bit more abrupt than what I might think it should. So my question really is... (and I know it might be hard to describe) What should a normal shift into gear sound and feel like?

Any input would be great.

THANKS!!

 

[cbavier]

Re: Rough shift

1996 225EFI Merc

This is something that has bothered me a bit since I bought the boat a year ago... It seems that shifting into gear (fwd or rev) seems to be rougher than I see others as being. Maybe it's just me. This is the first time I've had a 225. It just seems to clunk a bit louder and be a bit more abrupt than what I might think it should. So my question really is... (and I know it might be hard to describe) What should a normal shift into gear sound and feel like?

Any input would be great.

THANKS!!

Mine has always clunked and I have wondered the same thing. I was told to shift it fast but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I have it professionally serviced every year and the Dealer has never commented about the shifting.

 

[bullbat]

Re: Rough shift

a high idle in nuetral could cause a harse shift

 

[cbavier]

Re: Rough shift

Yea my Idle was high 1,00 and I seet it according to the book . I think around 700. It helped but it still clunks. I am wondering if the Idle/shift linkage is out of adjutment? I've had the boat four years and it's always clunked.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Rough shift

Yea my Idle was high 1,000 and I set it according to the book . I think around 700. It helped but it still clunks. I am wondering if the Idle/shift linkage is out of adjutment? I've had the boat four years and it's always clunked.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Rough shift

The shift linkage is not out of adjustment and even if it was it would have no effect on the clunk. When you shift a boat you are causing two clutch dogs to engage each other. This is akin to having two rotating gears grabbing each other. There will be a clunk. It is either in gear or it's not. The worse thing you can do is shift slowly so you hear some ratcheting before the clutch dogs engage. It rounds off the edges of the dogs and they will therefore pop out of engagement under power. what you are experiencing is normal.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Rough shift

The shift linkage is not out of adjustment and even if it was it would have no effect on the clunk. When you shift a boat you are causing two clutch dogs to engage each other. This is akin to having two rotating gears grabbing each other. There will be a clunk. It is either in gear or it's not. The worse thing you can do is shift slowly so you hear some ratcheting before the clutch dogs engage. It rounds off the edges of the dogs and they will therefore pop out of engagement under power. what you are experiencing is normal.

Thanks Silvertip. Like I said I have it professionally serviced every year and have complained to the Mechanic about it but he hasn't changed anything except to tell me don't shift it slow but shift it quick. I don't like the clunk. I guess I expected it to be more like putting a car transmission in gear, quiet and smooth. I had even thought maybe the u-joints were going bad. Thanks again for clearing that up. That puts my mind at ease.

 

[VinceJE]

Re: Rough shift

I guess I thought it might be a problem because I see others that seem to shift into gear without such a clunk.