Lower Unit Problems?

[Big Fish Hunter247]

I just rebuilt the lower unit on my dads 86 Merc 20hp he tried it out this weekend and he told me it wont go into reverse? I have a manual for it and I followed it just as it said anybody have any ideas on what it could be that I did wrong? i really dont wanna pay the money for somebody else to tell me what I did wrong any help from you guy and gals out the would be good thanks for the help?

Big Fish Hunter247

[Paul Waldowski]

BigFish,

I think I know what is wrong, but I'm not sure that I can explain it to you That silver rod has a couple of nuts that will need adjusting. Sounds like one of them isn't in the right place and is keeping it from engaging into reverse gear.

[Big Fish Hunter247]

what three nut are they Im not sure if I know what your talking about?

[ChuckN]

The shift link needs adjusting. There is a rod that you should be able to see that moves when you shift F-N-R. If the motor is on the boat, it is closest to the transom.

Likely when you took off the lower unit and placed it back together, something jarred it out of place so it needs to re-adjusted. If anything was moved or tweeked while it was disassembled that will create problems with it's back together. Hard to explain without seeing it...

[Valv]

You can also check if you re-aligned shift rod spline correctly when re-installed lower unit. If it's not right it will not shift correctly, and it takes just very little movement to get it out of position.

I don't think your motor has a shift link, I believe these are OMC products only, but I could be wrong.

[Big Fish Hunter247]

the shift part all it is is a rod that pushes into the case. its got a tapred end on it and the prop shaft has a pin on the end of it that slides on it the tapered part of it up and down could that part be a little off eather way? side to side? up of down? i dunno I dont think there is an adjustment of course I could be wrong?

Big Fish Hunter247