Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

[Hukeedo]

Got a 1970 Mercury 500 50 hp. Ran fine last year but it stopped going into reverse. I can live without it. Well, took the boat out to the lake to test it for memorial day weekend, and it fired right up and ran great. Went to put it in gear (forward) and nothing! I disconnected the cable and tried to get it into gear by hand that way and nothing. Took it home and tried to get it in gear and nothing. Any ideas? It's old and not sure i want to put any money into it, but if its something i can do i may try it before i sell it for parts.
Hope I can get some input on it.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

That doesn't sound good. When was the last time you changed the gear oil? Please don't reply "What gear oil"....

 

[Hukeedo]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

To be honest, i never changed it. I go the motor last year at the end of the season, ran it with no problems 4 or 5 times, then the reverse stopped. The guy i got it from said he had changed the fluid 6 months prior and i checked it and it looked fine and full.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

Well you might drain it out now and see what it looks like. Look for chunks of metal.

 

[Hukeedo]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

Ok, i opened th edrain on th elower unit bottom. All that came out was water that was brownish gray and smelled of gear lube. No oil came out. So, is the bottom end toasted?

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

Sounds like you might have a problem. when you turn the prop can you feel anything, rubbing, grinding?

 

[Hukeedo]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

Can't feel any resistance or hear any grinding or anything for that matter. It's null!

 

[Hukeedo]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

One thing i would like to add, The pisser tube or outlet, is gone from the block. So instead of pissing the water out the side tube like it supposed to, it pours out inside the bottom of the cowl and runs down the whole motor. I suspect this is where the water into the lower unit entered and thus, possibly ruined the lower end? I found this out after i got the engine and ran it, but did'nt think anything of it. I figured at least it's still pissin water right? So it sat all winter and probably froze something up? Just taking a stab here.

 

[Scubasteve87]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

Similar thing happened to me, i got stuck in forward. I was the "what gear oil?" guy, haha. Anyways I'd fill her up with gear lube and try it, in a bucket. Otherwise start looking for new lower unit...mine was 250$ and now I change my oil every other time I go out. Lesson learned

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Wont' go into forward or reverse..Ideas?

Huk, The gearcase is sealed. The telltale should not be getting into the gearcase. If it were me, I would fill it with gear lube and take it for a quick test, to see if the gearcase is worth resealing. No more than a 10 min test, and make sure you try wide open throttle. yes and stay close to the launch point and bring a paddle or a friend with a boat to tow you back. if the gearcase performs, drain and see how much water it has. I would recommend you replace the gaskets on the fill and drain plugs and the water pump base, oring and gasket. Clean up the driveshaft and remove all rust with some emery paper. Lube it with oil and install then new waterpump base with it's new oring, gasket and driveshaft seal. Now test it for an hour or so and check for water in the gear lube. If no water and it works, you are lucky.....