Older engine question

[Noonan]

I was given a boat by a friend who went through a divorce. He does not have any history on the boat and I am not sure who even makes it. It is a 17ft, tri-hull boat and has a "Bomber" plate attached to it. I have tried to look up the make, but have had no luck. It is a fiberglass boat which he used once or twice last year. The motor is a 72 Evinrude and worked for him last year, but he did not use it this past summer. I decided to change the plugs and give it a tune-up to the best of my ability (not knowing a whole lot about boats, but familiar with car engines). Well in the process we find out it needed a new impellar. When I put everything back together and put it in the water, the boat would not engage forward, only in reverse. I am sure it was something I did in putting it back together, since it appeared to engage forward before replacing the impellar. My question is, is there anything they make which could be hooked up the motor to run water through it while testing the motor, or is the only way to put a barrel under the engine. I did try to take it into a marina to be repaired, but nobody would touch it becuase of how old it way. Any help would be appreciated.

[MSUICEMAN]

there are things called muffs that hook up to a hose and clamp around and seal over the water intakes for the outboard. I have several pairs of em, like the more expensive ones a little better, but you can even find cheaper ones that would work at meijers usually.

steve

[FREEPOP]

You didn't get the shift pawl lined up when you put the lower unit on.

If it is a Mercury outdrive, loosen the bolts to the last 1 1/2 threads and push the lower unit down. Have someone in the boat put it in forward, neutral and reverse. You will see where the two pieces should mate (towards the front of the boat). It is a shaft with a piece welded to it like a hockey stick. The hockey stick goes into a U-shaped channel that is welded to another rod. This twisting motion will put it into gear. Line it up and tighten bolts, and away you go.

Only briefly put the boat in gear with muffs out of the water. The bearings are not loaded and the prop will spin alot faster than normal.

Good luck

[jpollman]

Noonan,

I'm assuming that the motor is a "long shaft" (20" transom right ?)

I have a '61 Evinrude and had the SAME problem. I'm willing to bet that you have a long shaft and when you reinstalled the lower unit, you didn't engage the shift linkage completely.
There should be an upper and lower shift rod. You'll need to completely remove the bolt from the lower half of the coupler that holds the two rods together. Then reinstall the lower unit. When you have the lower shift rod completely in the coupler, reinstall the bolt and tighten it.

The problem is that because it isn't installed COMPLETELY, the shift rod is too long and you can not engage the forward gear. I found that my coupler was bad so I picked up a new one and reinstalled it and the lower unit. It's worked fine ever since.

Good luck.

If you have any more questions, drop me a line. I'll be glad to help out wherever I can.

[TONGA]

if it is a 1972 like you state then I bet you justmissed the hole in the shift shaft when you put the bolt back into the shift fork under the carbs,,so now the shift shaft is just pinched between the shift fork and not in proper position,,,i think if you pull the bolt back out and annd make sure you have the hole in the shift shaft and the hole in the shift fork lined up before you put the bolt in it will shift like a dream,,,,I know this can be a pain to work under the carbs but if you move the shifter a bit I think you will get her
PS glad to hear you put an impeller in that puppy