? Shift problem ?

[Perfidiajoe]

I have a '95 225 XRi, & shifting seams a little stiff. I disconnect the cable from the engine, use a rubber band to hold the shift button up, & I can move the shifter, (foward & reverse) w/ one finger, so I doubt it is a cable. I've lubed the linkage regularly. I put a small vice grip (Lord forgive me) on the shift shaft, near the Pitot tube, & it is stiff w/ or w/o the cable connected. As I said stiff, not unmoveable. I'm looking to avoid a possible problem before I put the boat in the water for the season. Thanks, Joe

 

[hondon]

Re: ? Shift problem ?

It sounds like you are bound up at the pivot in the bottom cowl at the top of the shift shaft.Not unheard of but you need to pull the powerhead to resolve the problem.You will need to drop the gearcase to do that .So you can elimnate that hard shifting possibility when the gearcase is off by shifting it on the bench.If the gearcase shifts fine there you have pretty much pinpointed the pivot under the front of the powerhead.