97 Mariner 40hpno reverse

[whiskey99]

" My Mariner 40hp will only st

" My Mariner 40hp will only start if the button for cold start is engaged. Since it starts, I assume its in neutral but the prop still turns and accelerates if I increase power and I can't get it into reverse at all.

Prior to this happening I had removed the gearbox assembly to check for leaks...did I misalign something? I took it off again and the shift shaft appeared to be connected, but after the second reassembly the console throttle won't advance up unless I keep that button in....it will go down.

I also can't find a service manual for the engine, so I'm going from the diagrams at mercury parts express...any help greatly appreciated...its electric start and power trim. "

 

[tonyob]

"You probably did not get the

"You probably did not get the lower and upper shift rods conncted properly. The shift handle and the lower unit must be in neutral while you are attatching the gearcase to the driveshaft housing.

"

 

[whiskey99]

" Thanks Tony...now how do I g

" Thanks Tony...now how do I get them both in neutral? I assume I take the
lower unit off again...then what? I know very little about this and without
an available service manual, I am not able to learn much either. "

 

[tonyob]

"Whiskey,

Turn the lower sh

"Whiskey,

Turn the lower shift rod until the prop turns freely. It should stick in place when the clutch is in gear or in neutral. Put the throttle/shift lever on the remote control unit in the neutral position. It also should lock when in neutral.

You have to take the lower unit off to do this; you may have to remove it more than once before you get things right.

When you put the lower unit in place the splines on the two shift rods should line up properly. If the shift cable is way out of adjustment it can make it difficult to get the two shift rods to mate properly, so you may have to adjust it a bit. Generally the adjustment fitting should be in about the middle of the threads on the shift cable.

You might go easy on the whiskey until you get everything working properly.

"