Stuck in Reverse!

[petejung]

Hello all!

Newbie here, and totally new to outboard motors.

Just bought a boat from a guy. The boat has a 1971 80hp 4 cyl Mercury on it. When I went to see the boat, they were having trouble with it shifting into reverse and getting stuck. They thought it was the cables, changed them, no luck there. Then they said they were going to put a new control box on, because they found a plate worn or something in there. While they were waiting on the new box to show up, they allegedly fixed the old one.

We hooked up the muffs, and ran the motor, switched gears, etc. Everything seemed to be A-OK.

When I got it home last night, somehow I got it in reverse, trying to find neutral b/c the motor wasn't getting any juice.

Now I'm stuck in reverse, have the control box torn apart (they are sending me a "new" used one.

Is there any way to manually move this motor out of reverse? If so, would you please describe how to do so in detail...

Thanks!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

Pete, Remove the wrap cowling on the motor. Look on the lower port side of the motor, where the cables attach. Remove the lower cable (7/16" bolt, and push the aluminum fitting aside). Move the shift slider to the center of the track. You should feel it click into neutral.

BTW- The neutral interlock for starting is in the control box.

 

[petejung]

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

Thank you for the response. I will give that a try tonight.

The next question would be: How do you put the control box back together? I was looking at that last night, and am totally confused on how to put it back together. There was a loose piece that came out when I took it apart - it was a small cylindrical metal part, maybe a quarter inch in diameter and a 1/2 in long or so. Any ideas where that goes?

 

[petejung]

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

Thanks again for the tip. I was able to move the shift mechanism in the motor back to neutral and get the motor fired up. I could manually shift between f-n-r no problems...So I guess now I know that the control box has got to be the problem.

They are sending me a new used box out.

I can see how to take the shifter cable off, by removing that 7/16 nut.

How do you take off the throttle cable? It looked like a different hookup than the shifter, or maybe I just missed something obvious.

I would appreciate your futher assistance if you are able to help.

Thanks!

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

Upper cable is the throttle cable, and is attached to the throttle arm with a 7/16 nut on a pivoting stud attached to the throttle arm.

Lower cable is the shift cable. It is "captured" on a locator pin under a retainer that slides in an aluminum guide track. To remove the shift cable from the motor, push down on the end of the shift cable. At the same time rotate the retainer CCW about 45*. The throttle cable is now free and can be lifted off the locator pin.

The cylindrical part you referred to in the control box is the detent latch for the throttle/gear lever. It is held in place in a recess in the housing with a formed metal spring. The control lever, inside the housing, has a round "wheel" with a detent on it. As the wheel rotates, the little cylinder pops into and out of the detent on the lever wheel. This gives you the neutral position feel. Hope that is clear.

 

[petejung]

Re: Stuck in Reverse!

Thank you, Moody Blue.

I think I understand the cables. The top (throttle) cable is held in by a nut... and the shift cable is held in by what almost looks like a T-Nut...

Thanks for the info on the control box. I will hopefully never take one apart again! Do you know of any resource that has a diagram of the inner workings of the control box? I've ordered a service manual for the engine, but I'm not sure if they'll go over the control box in there...