TOPIC: stuck in gear

1961 Lark III 40hp electric start
worked fine on the trailer both directions
put a little load on it in rev on the water and it sounded like it
kicked out of gear for a second and the shift control got sloppy feeling
now will not come out of gear and shift handle on the motor
seems to be in forward gear but was driving in reverse
when I paddled her to the trailer

where to start looking ??
what might have broken ??

Sounds like the shift rod coupler came loose.

If you'll look on the Stbd side of the exhaust tower, you'll see an oval cover with 2 screws. This is the access for the brass shift rod coupler; there should be 2 bolts in the coupler. One of them has likely come loose and fallen out. In that case, you may need to remove the lower unit to find the missing bolt.

Note that when you reconnect the shift rod, be sure the notched portion at the end of the rod aligns perfectly with the bolt hole in the brass coupler. If not, the bolt may strip out when you try to screw it in.

If the shift coupler isn't the problem, with the access cover removed you'll be able to move the shift lever and check for motion of the shift shaft, this should tell you what's going on.

But most likely it's a problem with the coupler.

HTH & let us know what you find..........ed

One other thing I did this when new to motors. On the vary bottom of the lower unit is a screw and the screw holds the shift fork in place If that has been taken out and put back it may have misssed the hold in the shift fork and it will be stuck in one gear or the other. if you get lucky and thats it a small real small screw driver you can realine the shift fork after all the oil has been drained out. Plus it works easier if the motor is on its side.
Mike aka the pirate

gonna ck these things tonite
probably drop the foot off of her and put an impeller in while I am there
was meaning to do that anyway but running out of working time

I'm beating on the shift coupler also, since that's exactly what happened with mine.

Bob

It was in the lower...
shifter carrier siezed to the dog
1 shaft bearing siezed and the other on wasted
and why you ask ????







appearantly water is not an adequate substitute for gear lube
Parts coming soon ....

I've got a lot of parts for these Big Twin style lower units - let me know if you need anything...
- Scott

hopefully all will be correct
ordered both shaft bearings. seal kit, and shift cradle off of ebay by the OE numbers.
should be here Wednesday

here was the little PITA that caused my problems

almost half worn away and came off the fork

and with new bearings and seals and an impeller....it is back on
and works well static...will water test later