1987 OMC 225 shift shaft length adjustment question?

[at100plus]

Anyone have a manual that explains adusting the length of the shift shaft? One of my engines has a hard time hitting reverse and I'm out of shift cable adjustment. I read online somewhere it should be 26 and 15/16ths while in neutral with the L end at the top rotated towards the boat of the boat but I'm not sure if I believe it. I'm also not sure if you should measure from the flat plate base or the part where the shift shaft enters the base as shown in pic 2 below. Currently its about 26 1/4" from the flat base as shown by pic with tape measure.

[Sparkieboat]

see post number 3 at this link. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...y-obj?t=158088
26 13/16 - 26 7/8 on a 90 degree crossflow and 26 5/16 on a 60 degree looper. measurement is the to the middle of the hole in the top of your shift shaft. from the top of your gearcase housing.

[at100plus]

see post number 3 at this link. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...y-obj?t=158088
26 13/16 - 26 7/8 on a 90 degree crossflow and 26 5/16 on a 60 degree looper. measurement is the to the middle of the hole in the top of your shift shaft. from the top of your gearcase housing.

Awesome. Thx

[Sparkieboat]

you are most welcome.

[at100plus]

To be clear should I measure from 1 2 or 3 in the pic below. If I measure from 2 I'm already close to 26 5/16. If I measure from 3 the shift will come out of the threads. If I measure from #1 I don't think it will go in far enough to meet 26 5/16

[Sparkieboat]

To be clear should I measure from 1 2 or 3 in the pic below. If I measure from 2 I'm already close to 26 5/16. If I measure from 3 the shift will come out of the threads. If I measure from #1 I don't think it will go in far enough to meet 26 5/16

you measure from number 3 to the center of the hole in the top of your shift rod. you have a 1987 225. I will assume that it is a crossflow 90 degree motor because they did not start the 60 loopers until 91 I think. so you should measure 26 13/16 to 26 7/8.

[at100plus]

you measure from number 3 to the center of the hole in the top of your shift rod. you have a 1987 225. I will assume that it is a crossflow 90 degree motor because they did not start the 60 loopers until 91 I think. so you should measure 26 13/16 to 26 7/8.

1987 2.7 liter 225 XL (25") Bridgeport motor.

[Sparkieboat]

I just read somewhere else that it should be 26 15/16. where are you at in your threads at that height?

[Sparkieboat]

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...rod-adjustment
this is a link where a guy name Joe Reeves says 26 15/16. this guy is a real pro and knows his stuff. whatever he says about an outboard I will do.

[at100plus]

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...rod-adjustment
this is a link where a guy name Joe Reeves says 26 15/16. this guy is a real pro and knows his stuff. whatever he says about an outboard I will do.

26 13/16 from #3 seems most logical based in where it was and the length of the shift shift threads.

[ChrisCarsonMarine]

7 1/2 turns in

[flabum1017]

what do you need reverse for?

my book says 26 15/16" .........Logical since making the shaft taller will give you more reverse throw

[at100plus]

7 1/2 turns in

26 15/16ths happens to be 7 1/2 turns. I put one lower unit on and can't get it to line up with the linkage unless it's in reverse in which case it won't move. when it's not connected I've shift in and out fwd rev and neutral by manually moving the shift cable down where it comes thru the exhaust housing

[at100plus]

Finally got it. 2 hrs I've been trying to get the pin in the top. Finally I put a small screwdriver behind it to prop the shift forward a bit and I git it while in neutral. The time I thought I got it and it was binding I think I was actually catching the pin below the taper in the top of the shift. Shaft. Man I never had so much trouble putting a lower on. It's a tapered screw for crying out loud

[at100plus]

great now it won't go in reverse (throttle cabe disconnected). I'm pretty sure it did before I tightened the top pin. I guess I gotta drop the lower unit and back the shift shaft out a turn or turn and a half. I'm beat. Getting too old for this.