Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

[Oldsaltydog]

The motor is a 1998 Mercury 90HP. After rebuilding the water pump, as I was reistalling the lower unit, I must have done something wrong, because the splined shifting rod was pushed in and became disconneceted inside the gearcase, and now it flops around without doing any shifting, in fact, it can be pulled straight out. Looking at the diagrams, looks like the shift rod and the shift rod CAM became separated. How would you deal with this problem, besides taking the whole LU apart, or is that the only way? Should I order a new shift cam first? Please help.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Any takers?

 

[Merc805]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Try asking here<br />www.themarinedoctor.com

 

[Trent]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Get a flashlight and look down the shift shaft hole. Shake/bump the lower unit till you see the shift shaft cam. Line it up with a long rod or screwdriver. Then insert the shift shaft. It will take a few tries sometimes but Iv never had to tear the lower unit apart.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Trent<br /><br />Thanks for your good advice -- it worked after a few tries. How should I continue? How can I find out if the gearcase is shifting properly? Right now, it's in forward, the shift rod can be turned but it comes to s stop in either direction, no shifting happens, and I hate to force it too much. Does that sound okay? Once I am over that hump, would I reinstall the LU in forward, neutral, or reverse? (It was dropped in forward.) Thanks for your help. You seem to know what you are talking about.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

I think that forward is clockwise, so you will need to turn the lower shaft clockwise. Turn the prop slightly to help it find the gear and it should engage. The L/U Must be in the same gear as the upper shaft.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Thanks!

 

[Trent]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Id just put the shifter in neutral and install the lower unit. Dont have to try to make the shift shaft stay in foward or reverse.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Thank you very much once again, Trent. You have saved me a lot of time and money by your advice to shake the LU. Having reconnected the shift rod, next I shifted the gearcase into neutral, along with the remote shifter in the boat, and now I am all set to finish the job, God willing. You have been a great help!!!

 

[Trent]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Good luck... Should be no problem if you got the cam straight which is easy to do. To check forward and reverse turn the driveshaft and shift rod at the same time. It should go into gear. Then turn the shiftshaft in the other direction while turning the driveshaft and it should go in the other gear.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Make sure that the exhaust and water tube are correctly fitted and there is a new or good condition seal at the water pump housing for the tube. That will ensure you will get maximum performance fron the impeller.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

The gearcase did shift just fine, it has been reinstalled, and during a little spin on Sarasota Bay the LU and the motor worked well. All's well that ends well. Thanks for your help. Now I just hope that there will not be any more water seeping into the gearcase -- the problem that had led to further troubles to begin with.

 

[Trent]

Re: Shift Shaft (Rod) Cam Problem

Glad you got her going. Did you replace the shift shaft seal? Check your oil in a few hours for water. Hope not. But if it does we need to walk you thru pressure/vacuum tests.