Shifter rod position when in forward....and power head out? merc 90 3 cyl

[homelite]

ok, so on my Merc 90 3 cyl, I have the powerhead out and the had the lower unit off at the same time. I have lower unit on again. I am ready to mount powerhead soon. Look at my photo. How do I know what forward really is so I don't have to pull lower unit again. I have the lower unit in forward. From my photo, is the shift rod in the proper place for forward or does it need to go over center "clockwise" another notch? How do you know what forward is at this stage?

 

[Texasmark]

If you think you are in forward, see if you can rotate the prop cw by hand (looking from the rear) and hear the overrun clutch clicking in the LU. In the other direction turning the prop will turn/attempt to turn the engine crank shaft.....prop doesn't want to move easily. With that verified, move the shifter splined shaft pictured ONE notch (detent in the lowerunit shifter cam) whichever way it wants to go and ensure that the prop free wheels. Leave it there.

Go to your remote conrol and set the shifter in N rocking back and forth to ensure you have the slack out of the cable.

Install the shifter arm on the shift shaft spline. Don't know what else to tell you. That should do it.

 

[homelite]

Thanks. I get all that. I am in forward. The question is (from the photo), how do I know what the position of the linkage (shift arm) is when in forward? My lower unit is in forward now. Is my shift rod in the forward position or is forward next notch over to the left (clockwise)? I am wondering so when I reinstall the power head I don't have to pull the lower unit again! There has to be geometry to it....

 

[Texasmark]

Ask Faztbullet.

 

[homelite]

who is that?

 

[tommarvin]

Put the power head on and figure it out later, dropping the LU is less than five minutes, get ur done.

 

[Texasmark]

who is that?

He Is a mechanic and shop owner who posts on here frequently. I didn't finish answering you because I have never been where you are. I just applied some common sense to the problem. Seems to me if you have the output (the prop shaft) where you want it (N) and the shifter linkage from the remote where you want it (N) then everything is where it ought to be for a match up. Why wouldn't it be where it belongs?