Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

[tjharp]

My shift rod was broken and I need to know how much it will cost to have a new shift rod put in. It is a 1977 mercury 1500

 

[crem1]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

You can get a used one for a $100, the labor is usually twice that

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

The upper shift rod is a PIA 'cause you need to pull the powerhead. The lower shift rod is a real PIA, cause you need to disassemble the gearcase.
Of course, it begs the question "how did it break"?

 

[tjharp]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

Well somehow it got stripped when the water pump was being replaced, I don't know what happened. It's possible that's it's not broken though. The lower shift rod is attached to a plastic piece that is at the very end. Which way is this plastic piece supposed to go to be in neutral?
Also, would it be possible to cut the end of the shift rod and weld a new end on?

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

It's possible that's it's not broken though.
Also, would it be possible to cut the end of the shift rod and weld a new end on?

Can't see how that shift shaft could be stripped. Its a splined shaft and would take tremendous force to strip it.

What makes you say its broken? What makes you say its possibly not broken Whats the real issue ?

Sure you can cut the end off and weld a new one on, just be sure the overall length is the same and it is welded on perfectly straight or the two shafts won't engage properly, or at all.

 

[tjharp]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

I think that it was not quite in the right way and I tightened the nuts on the lower unit and apparently they got stripped

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

TJ, There is a plastic cam that fits over the lower shift shaft. This cam pushes the reverse (and neutral) lockdown arm up and down, to lock the motor to the transom bracket. It is easily replaceable.

If the stainless steel lower shift rod splines are stripped beyond the ability to use a file to clean them up, you need to replace it, or the entire LU. You might check the splines on the upper shift shaft coupler as well, as they may be messed up.

 

[tjharp]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

It is the splines on the upper shift rod that are damaged.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

Ok, It sounds like you need to pull the powerhead and replace the shift rod or shift rod coupler.

 

[emckelvy]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

If you can find a dlr with the NLA (No Longer Available) aluminum Shift Rod Coupler you might be able to get by with just replacing that.

Here's a diagram which I'll assume is similar to your motor:

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...2&bnbr=17&bdesc=BOTTOM+COWL+AND+SHIFT+LINKAGE

Part #19 in the pic, old P/N 55692, superceded P/N 93960A1.

Otherwise, you've got a one-piece upper shift rod and the coupler is mild steel and permanently joined to the shift rod.

The aluminum couplers have splines in both ends, they're a press fit on the upper end and slip-fit on the shift shaft end.

I'm assuming you have an alum coupler, since it would be pretty darn difficult to damage the steel splines of the older-style shift rod.

You may be able to pull the aluminum coupler off the shift rod without removal of the powerhead.

Remove the black plastic reverse lockout/shift rod guide in the exhaust tower and you should be able to get a pair of Vise Grips around the shift coupler. Heat it up with a propane or MAPP torch and it should come right off the shift rod. Clean up the splines of the upper shift rod with a wire brush, apply a coating of Permatex #3 Gasket Dressing to the shift rod splines, and tap the new coupler in place.

When you're driving on the new coupler, be sure to apply downwards pressure on the top of the shift rod. The upwards thrust can otherwise damage parts on the upper end.

Now, the Mercruiserparts.com site says the part is NLA, but I found it here:

http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/merc/M-55692.html

Hopefully their inventory is correct and they still actually stock the part.

Otherwise you'll need a good used shift shaft and replace the entire assy. This of course would require pulling the powerhead.

Anyway, just a few more possibilities, HTH & G'luck..........ed

 

[Starcraft Enterprise]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

Where are you located, I have a spare one.

 

[tjharp]

Re: Shift rod in 1976 mercury 1500

I am located in Spokane, WA
How much would you sell it for?