Marine Gearbox Problem

Disconnect the cables, if you haven't already. Then you can determine if it's the shifters that are sticking, the cable itself or the throttle controls on the engine. Or maybe it doesn't have cables?

If it's the shifters, they can probably be cleaned up and lubricated, same with the thottle controls.

If it's the cables, I would just replace them. I've tried to get old sticky cables lubed and moving freely before with some luck. Something that hasn't been moved in that long though should be replaced. You don't want them snapping while you're at full throttle!!

You may want to try here for more specific info. http://www.iboats.com/, go to boating forums. You do have to register, but it's easy and it's a good site for boating questions. Good luck!

Old dried out grease can become as sticky as the stuff they put on those fly strips. That could be what's binding everything up.

Hi and thanks for the quick reply.

The cables from the Morse control are good. The shifter moves freely just up until it needs engaging and becomes very stiff. What puzzles me is that it should simply click into gear and must have done so for may years using the Morse cable. I've spent some time knocking the shifter back and forwards with a rubber mallet. It seems to be looser, but I'm not sure if it's my technique getting better.

The other thing that puzzles me is that it is the same on both engines.

Thanks for your help.

Are you sure the engines don't have to be running to get a smooth engage?

It sounds like the problem is on the engine end. It's possible that the gears aren't meshing properly with the engines off.

One thing I can tell you from experience.......I wouldn't beat on those shifters anymore with a rubber mallet, or anything else. You've got to figure out exactly what's causing them to bind, and fix it.

If I'm right about the engines needing to be running, you're gonna break stuff by beating on them......if you haven't already.

Get some of those water circulation cups if the boat is out of the water, attach them, turn on the water, fire up up the engines and give it a try. I wouldn't be surprised if they engaged smoothly........if you haven't already busted something.

That still does not preclude a cable problem......

Have you taken the cables off and tried moving the levers with your hands to see if they are stiff or not?

As it still may be a combination of two stiff things!!

It would help to know make and type of the gearboxes. Hydraulic or mechanic and the power of the engines.

It is a manual and the engine is 35hp. I will post a photo of the gearbox later.

Cheers

Here are some photos hope they will help.

I was wondering if there would be some sort of internal clutch type mechanism that is sticking. As I move the lever in photo below it starts to engage with the right hand cylinder and then stops abruptly and then needs the extra push for it to engage.

Many thanks again for all the help and comments.

I would sit in it for about 30 minutes while running and shift the gears slowly one at a time while braking like the transmission fluid change shops do to re-lubricate the gears until it shifts smoothly.

I have come across this many times when boats have sat around for awhile. Since the cable checked out okay the most likely cause would be the bushings through the gear box housing on shift linkage. They will corrode. Use some good penetration oil like PB-Blaster and with the linkage disconnected work the shift mechanism continuously while spraying the penetrating oil. This will eventually loosen the linkage up. Repeat over a few days and check it again before pulling away from the dock.

I had a friend that had this problem but he did not find out until he pulled away from the dock and found out that he could not shift the boat forward. Luckily he was able to stop the boat without disaster.