2.0 Merc very difficult to shift?

[Instigator]

Helping a neighbor that just bought a deck boat w/a '94 2.0 150 Merc (0 hrs and near perfect!) that is very difficult to shift.
I thought it was the controls but disconnected from motor it oparates fine.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, do we need to run 93 through this motor?
Gary

[1BadAction]

it'll be fine with regular, but I like to run mid grade just in case I get a poor batch of fuel.

drop the lower off with the controls still hooked up, and see how tight it is. if its tight, the lube is probably gummed up somewhere in the shift rail or the shift rod bushing itself, which is common for a fishin motor that doesn't have much use. Also check the shift rod for straightness, if its bent it'll bind when you stick the lower on it.

Now, if its all good there, then it might be binding in the shift shaft bushing in the lower, maybe a slightly bent shift shaft. other than that the lower is going to need to be torn down to check (as far as I can think of right now).

[Instigator]

it'll be fine with regular, but I like to run mid grade just in case I get a poor batch of fuel.

drop the lower off with the controls still hooked up, and see how tight it is. if its tight, the lube is probably gummed up somewhere in the shift rail or the shift rod bushing itself, which is common for a fishin motor that doesn't have much use. Also check the shift rod for straightness, if its bent it'll bind when you stick the lower on it.
Now, if its all good there, then it might be binding in the shift shaft bushing in the lower, maybe a slightly bent shift shaft. other than that the lower is going to need to be torn down to check (as far as I can think of right now).
where the cable slides in the p.head, I already hosed it down with WD and looked fine to start.
Was wondering about where the rod went through the mid??
The owner is in a wheel chair so his wife drives and I am very anal about what I do to his stuff accordingly.
Thanks for the info Jim.

[TEXAS20225]

BAd allready nailed it oil has probably turned to sludge and causing the dog to not work well on the spline try emptying case and fill it with diesel shift it till it gets loose( if it will) drain add new oil :thumbsup:if not tear the carrier out remove shift shaft and prop shaft see what you have not a big deal !couple hours work if you dont start liftin them 12 oz weights:cheers:

[Capt.Insane-o]

where the cable slides in the p.head, I already hosed it down with WD and looked fine to start.
Was wondering about where the rod went through the mid??
The owner is in a wheel chair so his wife drives and I am very anal about what I do to his stuff accordingly.
Thanks for the info Jim.


There is just a plastic bushing in the upper exhaust plate right under the bottom carb. Other than that the shaft is free all the way down to the lower. If the lower unit oil has turned to "slude" there are more problems than stiff shifting. How does it shift by hand? Put some tension on the shift cable by hand and try it. If the boat was operated in salt water I'd look at the linkage under the carb, the bushing and where the slider linkage connects to th bell crank. If not there the shift shaft bushing in the lower.

[Instigator]

BAd allready nailed it oil has probably turned to sludge and causing the dog to not work well on the spline try emptying case and fill it with diesel shift it till it gets loose( if it will) drain add new oil :thumbsup:if not tear the carrier out remove shift shaft and prop shaft see what you have not a big deal !couple hours work if you dont start liftin them 12 oz weights:cheers:
Owner just had it "serviced" and thinks the fluid was changed but from what I've seen so far......I'm doubtfull.
When I had the cable off at the p.head I could not move the linkage and didn't think there was much to bind between there and and the gear case.
I have the tools to get into it so we'll see what the owner wants to do.
Thanks again for all your help guys.
Gary

[QUICKSILVER]

Is it hard to shift when the engine is running, or just when the engine is off? I would drop the lower down far enough to get the shift shaft to unspline. If everything moves easy then, the lower is going to have to come off anyway. They normally shift easier when the engine is running. I think I have read in a few of the manuals where Mercury doesn't reccomend shifting without having the engine running.

[Instigator]

Is it hard to shift when the engine is running, or just when the engine is off? I would drop the lower down far enough to get the shift shaft to unspline. If everything moves easy then, the lower is going to have to come off anyway. They normally shift easier when the engine is running. I think I have read in a few of the manuals where Mercury doesn't reccomend shifting without having the engine running.
I couldn't even move the linkage on the powerhead.
They don't want you to shift shut off because you will/may force gears that are'nt aligned.
Good point on dropping the lower.

[Hottrucks]

that plastic bushing under the carbs is where I would start... like he said drop the lower a bit then try shifting it on the side of the block (timing arm) which by the way you may want to look at and giving that a shot of lube....I have even seen those stiffen up when not used i would find it hard to believe it was a lower problem