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72 Hydro Electric shift wont go into forward gear

T

tawas23

Member
I have been all over this learning as much as I can and refuse to give up on the outboard 65ESL72. I installed new oil pump as old one was bad cracked at screen area took apart with manual step by step tested solenoids 6.0 ohms both green and blue wires then put back together with new oil pump and seals new water pump gaskets then pressure tested everything seem great not to hard with manual then installed lower unit. I tested shift wires engine running in neutral green wire has 12volts.. in reverse both blue and green 12volts.. forward no power at all on blue or green wires great right ..nope ..no forward gear works great in neutral and reverse but nothing in forward ..turn motor off spin prop I have forward of course defaults in forward gear motor off ..For some reason I don't have forward I read the manual up and down read posts on here still stumped. Read the Joe Reeves write up on how it works and cant figure out why no forward engine running. please help tx
 
So if you disconnect the blue and green wires going to the lower unit does it go into forward gear with the engine running? Could it be something in the push button shift switch in the control box?
 
Yes, should default to FWD gear with no electric applied. This way you could get home with dead battery, failed switch or damaged harness. Is the spring weak or piston have any damage?
 
When running I disconnected the green and blue wires and still no forward. but when engine not running I will spin prop and defaults to forward..
 
no damage to shaft piston.. the spring I cant compare to anything.. no push button controls just the Johnson hydro electric shift controls using type C starbright oil but not sure about solenoids other than ohms test never messed with height adjustment because looks like no one ever been inside gearcase..
 
Evinrude push button & Johnson single lever controls are interchangeable. But they must be the "hydro-electric" control so they provide no power in FWD, power to 1 solenoid in Neutral & both in REV. His posts suggest he has the correct controls. And post #4 with wires disconnected should put it in the default to FWD gear.
(Earlier Selectric controls were wired differently & not applicable)
 
tawas23 said:
When running I disconnected the green and blue wires and still no forward. but when engine not running I will spin prop and defaults to forward..
Click to expand...
So engine not running, defaults into forward gear. Does it go into forward gear, engine not running but keyswitch is turned to on?
 
Yes engine not running goes into forward gear and yes I just went out and checked stays in forward with key turn on without starting moved throttle to forward neutral and reverse and stays in forward gear. Has the Hydro shifter both motor and controllers in great condition.
 
Should I take lower unit off again and try to see something not working not sure what to look for tho any other checks before removing lower unit or ideas what to look for after removing??
 
If the engine is not running there is no oil pressure.-----Clutch dog should be pushed forward for forward gear.----Key on or off does not matter.-----How did this motor shift for you last season ?----Or a new purchase ?----Tried a different propeller ?
 
new purchase when doing water pump I seen oil pump screen area cracked so ordered new oil pump and new clutch dog installed prop end facing prop so never had it work but not giving up
 
Sounds like clutch dog is not moving properly.---Or previous owner messed up with wrong parts.-----If this unit was on my work bench it would be an easy fix.-----But I am stepping aside on this one.
 
I'll take a guess. There are two flow control valve levers on the oil pump., held down (closed) by the solenoids when activated. Something is holding the neutral lever down when the solenoid is not activated. OR, something else is blocking the flow to/through the valve.

I say check the solenoids for correct assembly and adjustment.
 
Well I took off lower unit and spun the driveshaft with my hand and held the prop shaft and it wasn't going into forward gear solid it would go in then pop out and prop shaft would not spin so I took off solenoid cover and found the solenoid plunger rod with nut on top was sticking up about 1/8 of a inch or so. I believe the rod got stuck slightly up causing my issue what would make this come up and not go down all the way?? I don't see anything that would push it down if it pops up for some reason. I drain oil and cleaned everything slides nice and free with no oil on bench. Took a felt pipe cleaner fit perfect in guide tube ran it thru with cleaner slides nice. Is there anything else to check before putting it back together. I also spun drive shaft again without solenoid assembly installed and prop shaft is in a solid forward gear not stopping like it was before I removed solenoid cover. So I believe the rod will work once put together and once put into forward gear then after shifts into neutral then reverse then back to neutral then back into forward the rod pops up and wont go all the way down after first forward shift as natural and reverse works fine .does this make sense I hope..
 
I give you kudos for tackling this project, not many people left that have a lot of knowledge about this design. I started working for an Evinrude dealer during highschool in 1975, we had three factory trained mechanics at the time and they wanted nothing to do with them and were ready to move on to the new CD ignition systems and mechanical shift gearcases.
 
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