1973 25hp evinrude shifting problem

[Dallas18]

i have a 1973 25hp evinrude that i picked up. it will start fairly easy, shifts in and out of gear fine. the problem is that when i shift into forward it will idle fine and even accelerate a bit. but once you get about half throttle or under load it kicks into neutral. it does not do this in reverse. also, you can hold the shift lefer in place to give it full throttle but once at full throttle its starts revving up and down and is kinda lurching. any ideas?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Pull the prop and draw a line with a felt marker across the prop and hub then take it out and run until it does it again and then see the the line moved. Sounds like you need a new prop or have that one rebuilt? It is good to have a spare prop anyways i prefer to just buy a new pne and if you still have the same issue you have a good spare.

 

[racerone]

Look into adjusting the shift lever at the shift handle.-----That should be equal travel between forward and reverse.----If that is good then take lower unit apart to inspect forward gear and clutch dog .

 

[fdrgator]

If it isn't the linkage, the clutch dog and probably forward gear are badly worn out. That motor has detent balls that make it snap all the way into gear unless the linkage is WAY out of adjustment. Once in gear, it should stay in gear unless the dog and gear are worn out as suggested. That isn't happening if it is kicking out to neutral.

This is an extremely common problem, well known, and you are not the first. Delaying the repair only makes it worse, and also beats the linkage parts to death.