Shift Linkage Slop?

[MillBubb]

I'm looking to get some tips or pointers on shifting problems. Occasionaly I can't engage a gear and I'm guessing its "slop" in the linkage. The control box looks fine and even when trying to quickly shift from neutral to one gear or the other, I'm forced to select it manually at the motor (with cover off). It's like their isn't enough "throw" in the cable. The obvious adjustment on the end only makes engageing the opposite gear impossible. It's almost a two hour ride to the boat so I'm hoping to get ideas before driving.
Does the cable stretch over time?
Are there replaceable bushings in the linkage?
1968 65Hp Evinrude Sportfour.
Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Shift Linkage Slop?

sounds like you cables are going bad. the go bad on inside, you get them to work in one gear, and they won't in the other.

 

[MillBubb]

Re: Shift Linkage Slop?

To test this, I should be able to hold the selector arm on the motor and feel a "give" when tying to move the control lever, right?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Shift Linkage Slop?

hold on does your motor have a shift lever on the side of the motor, some of those motors were electric shift. let me verify this with some one else.

 

[F_R]

Re: Shift Linkage Slop?

The 65hp was not electric shift.
The shift likage is kind of complex. There is the shift lever on the side, attached to a shaft that goes through the lower cowling, then another lever inside the cowling. From there, there is a rod that goes down to another shaft going through the midsection housing. Inside that midsection housing is another lever connecting to the upper shift rod. Then the upper and lower shift rods are connected by the brass shift rod connecter behind the inspection plates.

Troubleshoot one system at a time. Disconnect the remote cable and make sure the motor shifts properly. Only when you have established that, should you consider the control/cable.

Remove the inspection plates and look inside. You will see the shift rods move up and down when you work the handle on the side. There should be no slack or lost motion. If there is, there is a problem somewhere along the line with the linkages.

The shift handle on the side of the motor is adjustable on it's shaft. If it is way out of adjustment, it will be out of the available range of the cable travel.

Sometimes the end of the cable breaks off and somebody will reattach the cable end. That won't work. There won't be enough travel. Cable replacement is required if it breaks.

Also, make sure the cable end hasn't slipped on the cable, inside the control box. That will limit travel also.

 

[MillBubb]

Re: Shift Linkage Slop?

Thanks F R, the cable seems fine and I can push the arm into gear by hand, but I do however have slop in all that linkage. Do you know if their are replaceable bushings in the links?

 

[F_R]

Re: Shift Linkage Slop?

There are not. What usually causes slop is the lever inside the exhaust housing comes loose on the shaft. Then the "flat" on the shaft wears. Naturally, that is the hard one to get to.