outboard problem

[UNIQUE_NAME]

hi guys,

i'll preface this by saying i've never owned an outboard before, so this was my first attempt at maintenance on one. i have a 1987 yamaha 9.9 which i just changed the water pump on. having a problem re-attaching the LU though. when pushing the LU up to bolt it on, it keeps forcing the shift rod upward forcing the shift handle to the forward position. if you put the shift handle in neutral it pushes the LU down. if i bolt it on with the shift handle in the forward position, it will not shift to neutral or reverse. after removing th LU again i tried to move the shift rod in the LU up or down to no avail. it must be locked in the up position. i'm not sure how this happened, the motor shifted fine before i removed the LU. any ideas?
any ideas what am i missing?
thanks,
jim

 

[Finalee]

Jim,

Lower units usually have a specific sequence to reassembly to the upper. Not sure on that one. Suggest getting the manual. You will need it on other operations.

 

[Genesis]

I don't have a 9.9, but I can tell you how it works on the larger Yam outboards (as I just did the water pumps on mine this spring, and have owned a bunch of them over the years, with all being roughly the same.)

The shifter must be in NEUTRAL or it will not properly re-engage. This can be problematic if the lower unit is not - you need to put the shifter mechanism on the lower unit in neutral, and make sure the engine end is also in neutral.

It should then go back on properly.

This may be different on the small engines; the gearcase is definitely different, and it does vary from manufacturer and engine to engine.

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

is there a trick on how to get the LU into neutral when it is removed? the shift rod on the LU will not move up or down.

thanks,

jim

 

[Genesis]

You sure it moves up or down? On the larger engines it ROTATES and is a spline engagement, and is a LOT of fun if you remove it in the wrong position!

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

with the LU removed, the upper part of the shift rod appears to go up and down with the shifter movement but it could be rotating instead. the LU shift rod does move side to side but not up and down. at this point, it is apparent i removed it in the wrong position. since boating is ALL about having fun, what is the "LOT of fun" procedure i can try on the LU?

thanks,

jim

 

[krush]

Is it a push-pull shifter or a twist?

For twist: The normal way to remove lowers for most engines (and I/O's) is with the shifter in forward. I know this is the norm for all mercs, but it's been a long time since I pulled a yam lower. However, Merc and yam did share quite a bit of parts up until recently and I think I did the same deal with yams.

One reason for this is it's easy to rotate the drive shaft to line up the splines...you have to turn the prop backwards though unless there unit has full locking dogs.

For Push-pull: I usually just do fwd or reverse. Which one I choose is basted on which selection makes it easier to remove/insert the connection bolt in the linkage.

 

[Genesis]

Look and see if its rotating or moving up and down while you actuate it from the motor end, since you've already got it off.

Mercs typically want to be in forward gear when removed, while the larger Yams want to be in Neutral. The larger yams turn to shift and are a splined shaft in the housing that fits over the top of the stub coming from the lower unit.

I haven't pulled a 9.9 apart but as Krush said the manufacturers have shared a lot of parts over the years....

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

the upper shift rod is moving up and down so have to assume the lower piece should move up and down, right? it doesn't. any ideas?

thanks

jim

 

[34Hatt]

On the lower unit while try to move the rod are you rotating the prop as Krush said too. Many units always need it rotating to move it!

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

yes, i've tried moving the rod while rotating the prop. rotating the prop clockwise or counter clockwise yields the same results, frustration. is there a magic sequence i'm missing here?

thanks,

jim