Shifting Problem -- No F, only R (coupler?) photos added

[bds85466]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Well I went to the marina after hours and looked at the back without the lower unit on. So he apparently took that off to make his diagnosis. The gimbal bearing was still in, and the coupler is invisible from the inner transom side without a comple tear down. I still think it may be tough (unless there's a tool?) to tell a faulty coupler without taking everything out, right?? I took some pictures and video of the shift cable which I'll post tomorrow ; the cable seems to be moving with shifting. How much and what that means, I would need an expert. The piece that connects to the cable gets pulled back towards the boat when in reverse by the nub on the cable, and in forward the cable end comes out -- but the metal block sheath doesn't move with it. I'm guessing this is normal when every thing isn't hooked up(?) -- at any rate I'm going to bring it home and look further over the weekend. I just can't believe that if the coupler is ruined that the boat (besides going in reverse) didn't overheat from a lack of impeller operation. Can the coupler slip under load? Could the mechanic have messed it up when removing the outdrive?

 

[bds85466]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

So this is a pic while the boat is in forward. The nub of the cable comes out a ways from that block piece. In neutral it goes back further into the block, and in reverse, it actually engages the block peice and pulls it in a bit.

 

[sparky71]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

There is supposed to be a screw with a locking piece of wire in the end of the shift slide in ur pic...if thats the way it was when dis-assembled ...no wonder youre having shift problems...when I did my lower cable I believe the oem cable kit came with a new slide as well as the screw and lock-wire

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Having just done mine, there is indeed a screw there.

It took me about 3 hours (First one) to get it done.

I'd recommend tying a string to the old one and new one when you pull the old one thru. ...

Best of luck!!

 

[Aviator5]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Man, that missing screw could be your only problem

 

[maagee79]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

i think ur mechanic is trying to put it to u. i would buy a new shift cable. just bought one $35.

 

[sparky71]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

I second that tying a string to cable inside of boat (after it is all disconnected)then when you pull the old one out you will have something to pull the new one in...cable routing inside of boat is very important...you want the new one in same routing as old one...$35 sounds a little cheap???DO NOT buy an aftermarket cable,buy the OEM cable...it's worth the extra money!!!!!

 

[swihartart]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

these guys are dead on,

without that set screw and locking wire, your slide is not working properly. From the pic it looks like the housing is corroded. If you clean that up the slide will not be as sticky but you definitely need that set screw and wire that goes through screw and twists over the post on top of the set screw.

Here's a pic from the manual.

 

[cdiamond]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Two things quickly

You can see the engine coupler splines
if you use a bright flashlight shone thru the gimbal bearing

As Sir Don S. stated
the coupler fails two ways
1. the rubber bond fails - between the splines and the outer housing
which can usually be verified by inspection inside the boat
2. the outdrive shaft (steel) will destroy the coupler
splines (aluminum) either from misalignment or lack of lubrication

Your shift cable is not going to shift the drive at all
without the retaining screw to secure the inner core wire
to the shift slide

As an aside it sure looks to me like you have a water intrusion issue
into that area

 

[cdiamond]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Also I forgot

It looks like you need to replace
your shift shaft seal with the new style bushing

That could be the source of the water
into your shift cavity area

Good Luck

 

[sparky71]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

It does look like water is getting in there...upgraded shift shaft seal is not that expensive and easy to do...I would replace all of it;shift shaft seal/bushing,shift slide,shift arm(with roller on it)and OEM cable kit...I do believe as it is now you would have rev. cause when shifting to rev. slide pulls in towards bellhousing...but I'm just a rookie so not positive about that...change lower shift cable/shift shaft bushing and take it out...doubt its the coupler

 

[bds85466]

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Mechanic Trying to Screw Me (or just a dummy)? Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Wow, I leave for one weekend and all of these responses. Tough to know where to start back in. Thanks to everyone!

From my rookie look, it did appear that something was off when you could make the linkage move into reverse (the way it would work) but only the cable would move when in forward (the boat would not work). It also makes much more sense now why, when going from R to N, the boat would just stay in R! With this knowledge, the set screw seems like the obvious target...for my shifting problem. In fact the guy that removed the outdrive said they found the set screw when they pulled it.

Yeah you guys are right. This thing was pretty crusty. One could easily speculate that there was some moisture getting there. Thanks for the advice on that seal.

 

[bds85466]

Re:Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re:Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

As far as the coupler goes, the guy who pulled our outdrive said he had to do some considerable pounding to get it loose from the coupler. I'm guessing that the thing hadn't been pulled/greased in years. It wasn't completely dry, but it didn't look very lubed. See attached pictures of the outdrive shaft.

It is probably really hard to tell if the coupler itself is really bad without pulling the engine for a full inspection. Can you tell more by removing the gimbal bearing?

I'm hoping that just because the guy struggled a bit with getting the OD off that his mechanic instinct just said "replace the coupler". If the cleaned up and well greased drive shaft goes back in nicely (aligned etc) and things look square, we should be set.

Otherwise, the U-joints looked ok (dangly and floppy, no hitches), the gimbal bearing was really greasy and turned nicely.

You guys are right, most of those shift cavity components look like they could be replaced. Right now I have it up with another guy that is more knowledgeable/trustworthy and we'll be going through the thing together. I'll let you know as I find more. Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[bds85466]

Re: Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

Re: Shifting Problem -- No F, only R

I think the shifting deal with the set screw is the least of my problems. Not too long ago I had yet another Eureka moment with this:

I now know why it took quite a bit of work to get the outdrive off -- it was out of alignment. The guess as to why it's out of alignment is because two of the lag bolts holding the engine to the stringer are loose and spinning -- stripped.

Obviously this misalignment will put some strain on and damage the coupler. (the coupler) is not in terrible shape, but this will only get worse I'm guessing. The right thing to do is to pull the engine and get it aligned correctly(?) -- wouldn't hurt to do the coupler while I'm in there? Once I get the engine out of there I'm going to assess what needs to be done with the engine mounts/stringer -- if anything can be done. Ouch. Tomorrow when I get at it, I'll get some pictures.



I suppose I could just slap it back together (if the drive will go back in) and then sit on top of a ticking time bomb...