96' Mercury tiller slipping out of reverse

[cbrunick57]

Have a 2 stroke 60 hp merc. Tiller. Runs great, never have had water in the lower unit or any sort of grinding. This weekend while out fishing it wouldn't stay in reverse. It would shift no problem and run fine but if I didn't hold onto the shift lever it would just fall out of gear. Forward works fine. Any ideas?

[marine_man]

Have you made any adjustments to the controls, replaced a water pump before this problem or anything along those lines?

marine_man

[cbrunick57]

Nope, was completely out of the blue. I'm hoping it is simple as the linkage is just out of adjustment. Like I said there's no grinding or clunking at all. Runs fine just have to hold it in reverse.

[10,000 Casts]

I have a 96 Merc 90 hp tiller and mine would go click click click etc and wouldn't even go into reverse and it ended up being a broken clutch dog.

[Finns]

I have a 96 Merc 90 hp tiller and mine would go click click click etc and wouldn't even go into reverse and it ended up being a broken clutch dog.

X2

[cbrunick57]

Doesn't have any clicking, grinding etc. Shifts into reverse just fine, just won't stay in gear. You can watch the shift lever creep forward into neutral.

[Surface Tension]

You should feel the shifter stop at position of FNR. To shift from any gear you should feel resistance while the linkage is coming off the detent.

If its not stopping at R its possible its not traveling far enough to lock into the detent and it would be as easy as linkage adjustment.

[delmuts]

Although it doesn't apply to me. How tough is it to adjust the linkage on an outboard? Is this something a every day person can do , or does it require a mechanic? Thanks!

[Surface Tension]

Its pretty simple and straight forward when you look at it.

[marine_man]

If its not stopping at R its possible its not traveling far enough to lock into the detent and it would be as easy as linkage adjustment.

This is where I was going once you posted back. If it's not this, then it's likely time for a trip the mechanic to take a look at your clutch dog... you can have broken ones with the symptoms above, or they can wear, and produce the symptom you are referring to.

marine_man