Alrighty guys - I've got a problem. '61 Evinrude, 10HP Sportwin. Just
came into my posession. Looks like the shift linkage in the leg is
bent (pulled) downward - I suspect someone tried to pry off the lower
end without disconnecting the linkage.

Can it be unbent? What exactly is the geometry of the linkage? What
would be the recommended course of action?

Thanks!

wrote:
Alrighty guys - I've got a problem. '61 Evinrude, 10HP Sportwin. Just
came into my posession. Looks like the shift linkage in the leg is
bent (pulled) downward - I suspect someone tried to pry off the lower
end without disconnecting the linkage.

Can it be unbent? What exactly is the geometry of the linkage? What
would be the recommended course of action?

Thanks!


If that is in fact the case, the shift fork is probably bent. It is a
stamping, strong enough for normal use, but the fingers that ride in the
clutch cradle can bend if forced. Replacement is really quite easy, you
would really only need a couple of o-rings and some "spaghetti" seal
material to do the job, and the part should be easy to find.

Is it stuck in neutral & reverse?

Rob

Exactly. It's stuck in neutral and reverse... is maybe 1/4" out of
forward when selector is placed in forward.

Is there any hope in bending it back - or is this replacement only?
Thanks!

wrote:

Exactly. It's stuck in neutral and reverse... is maybe 1/4" out of
forward when selector is placed in forward.

Is there any hope in bending it back - or is this replacement only?
Thanks!


The problem with bending it back is that it will be difficult to do it
evenly to both "ears" on the fork, and the shifting will be balky, and
the shift fork pivot pin will be stressed, and lead to early cradle
and/or clutch dog wear.

That part was made from about 1952 to 1973 and should be easy to find,
especially from a boneyard. It never wears out, so any junker donor
will have a good one.

You will still want to inspect the bellcrank too, to be sure it's not
torn or cracked - it's a casting - so it should be obvious.

Rob

A ha! I finally got around to looking at it. Not a big deal. There's
a slotted plate behind the shift lever - you can loosen it and push
from one side to another to adjust the angle of the bell crank at a
given shift setting - it had been pushed all the way to one side.
Tinkered and re-centered it, and now I've got all my gears again.
Thanks for the suggestions!

On 1 Feb 2005 10:21:28 -0800, wrote:

A ha! I finally got around to looking at it. Not a big deal. There's
a slotted plate behind the shift lever - you can loosen it and push
from one side to another to adjust the angle of the bell crank at a
given shift setting - it had been pushed all the way to one side.
Tinkered and re-centered it, and now I've got all my gears again.
Thanks for the suggestions!

No problem. Glad we could help.