Thread: Need a little help, just info on boat mechanic

chuck fixed my mercury 15 hp 2000 model 4 stroke bout two years ago. great fellow. good price. 3 day turnaround

Sounds like your shift linkage may need adjustment. Get 2 8mm open end wrenches and you can adjust it yourself. Eazy peavy. If so.....

You can move your shifter to and from forward to reverse and watch for the shift linkage moving up and down in the midsection. There is a coupler that connects two threaded rods and a jamb nut that holds it from moving - loosen and remove coupler and jamb nut first. Next, I usually push the lower rod down into the lower unit until it engages reverse (you'll easily feel it) and then push the shifter handle to the reverse position. Now the two threaded ends are exactly distanced from each other to perfectly shift the gearbox and the coupler will ensure they stay at that distance. You can simply hold the coupler up next to them and eyeball mark how many threads should show at each end. Fasten the coupler and tighten jamb nut and You're done.

Originally Posted by blueducklane

Sounds like your shift linkage may need adjustment. Get 2 8mm open end wrenches and you can adjust it yourself. Eazy peavy. If so.....

You can move your shifter to and from forward to reverse and watch for the shift linkage moving up and down in the midsection. There is a coupler that connects two threaded rods and a jamb nut that holds it from moving - loosen and remove coupler and jamb nut first. Next, I usually push the lower rod down into the lower unit until it engages reverse (you'll easily feel it) and then push the shifter handle to the reverse position. Now the two threaded ends are exactly distanced from each other to perfectly shift the gearbox and the coupler will ensure they stay at that distance. You can simply hold the coupler up next to them and eyeball mark how many threads should show at each end. Fasten the coupler and tighten jamb nut and You're done.

The shifter linkage rod and short rod out of the lower unit coupler on this Nissan is put together with 2 cold roll pins, no threads on connecting coupler.
Unless it is something in the motor housing I didn't see.
Thanks for your response Blue Duck!

Dont give up! With the motor off you can shift the engine to forward. Then use your hands to spin the prop clockwise. If it slips into neutral i believe you either have a clutch dog issue or shift rod needs to be adjusted. You can also try that in reverse.

You may be able to examine the parts from the shift handle (i.e. Bushings, cable connectors, etc) pretty easily but im no mechanic.

try west side marine,they are located on highway 10 by lake Maumelle

I've seen some of the two stroke Nissan/tohatsu motors have the shift cam on the end of the rod come off or the cross pin in the clutch dog break, both resulting in no action when shifted and both internal in the gear case. If you want to diagnose yourself take the lower unit off, if it shifts fine on the bench......probably something up top, if not the problem is in the gearbox.

Took it to Chuck Johnson last saturday, what a nice guy he is!!!!! Pinion gear lost a tooth and hung up and chewed the forward and reverse gears plum up. I finally located someone who could come up with all parts at once and not have to order from different people. People a Cuz Outboards in Bryant ordered them for me this morning early. They are good folks to I think. iBMack you were dead on about Chuck!
Thanks to all that helped, it is much appreciated