Shift into Forward problem

I have an '89 model 9.9hp Evinrude (very low hours - from an estate sale). Without getting too deep into how I think a member of my family may have contributed to this problem, the fact is, the motor has become increasingly difficult to shift from neutral into forward. Going into reverse is fine. When I push the throttle handel to go forward, the engine races, and does not engage into forward. I pull the throttle back and forth, "searching" for the forward notch, so to speak. Suddendly, it engages, and the boat begins moving forward, and along with that, there are several loud "thumps" as if a cog were missing somewhere. After the motor successfuly engages into foward, and the boat is moving, the motor runs as smooth as silk.

Question: Where do I begin looking for the problem? Is it an "adjustment" issue, with the cables? Pulling up on the button under the throttle handle does allow movement of the handle, fore and aft, but has no effect on the problem of rough engagement -- it seems to occur when the stars align with the moon, and only then does it move the boat forward. Trying to get out on a HP restricted body of water, before the sun comes up is becoming a challenge!

My apologies for the lenghth, but could not think of a simpler way to explain the situation.

Respectfully,

Gary
Clinton, NJ

Welcome to the BBC.

First off, if you are moving the throttle back and forth looking for forward gear, that may be your first problem.

Turn the throttle all the way to idle, then grab the shift handle and move it towards you, that is forward gear.

Try this and let us know how it works.

Welcome Gary,
Is this on a skiff or a long shaft on a sail boat? Do you have a remote console with cable throttle/ shifter? Or ala' skiff a manual shift/ tiller steering? The first place to start would be to change the lower unit fluid on the motor, as you have purchased it from an estate sale and you have now way of knowing when the fluid has been replaced. Drain it and fill it with Ultra-HPF lower unit fluid, on the port side of the motor is the shift lever, you can manually engage it and spin the prop if it is on the hull with your foot (motor not running of course). Check for proper engagement with the motor not running in both forward and reverse gears via the shift lever. If that is all good, fire up the motor in the H20 under load and check engagement if it still kicks out of gear then more than likely clutch dog replacement is necessary. CM http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/pimp2.gif

With respect to your comment about "throttle" and "shift handle": I'm no outboard mechanic, but the few boats I have owned, these items are all-in-one the same. A person pushes the handle foward and down, the boat goes forward and the further one pushes the handle, the faster the boat will go. Same goes for going backwards. With due respect, your definition seems to fit a much larger boat. That said, I think the gentleman who also responded with the reference to clutch cog, sounds like a solution.

Gary
Clinton, NJ

Gary, I apologize if my post offended you in any way, I read your post and my post was referring to a tiller model, I simply misunderstood your post, For that I do apologize.

I'm not sure I got the replies lined up with the right responders, but here goes. The motor shares the transom with an 85 hp outboard. Also, the 9.9hp motor is remote controlled with the steering linked to the bigger motor. I accept your advice re replacing the lower unit lube -- I'll do that ASAP. Now, as far as the clutch dog goes, I hate to ask, but can you give me an idea as to just where that is located? I suspect it is somewhere in the area where between the power head and the lower unit. I fancy myself a bit handy with a wrench . . . . would this be a job that can be done without some sort of special tools, i.e., outside a boat shop?

Thank you for your informative reply.

Gary
Clinton, NJ

No offense taken, friend. I was just trying to get it known what I had.

I most sincerely respect your desire to help.

Thank you very much.

Gary
Clinton, NJ

The clutch dog is between forward and reverse gear, not an easy change as the gearcase has to come down to replace it.

Can you look at the shifter where the cable is connected at the motor, if so, shift the motor into forward, motor off, then see if you can push the shifter, at the motor, towards the front.

You may need to adjust the cable.

Hmmm . . . You know, when I bought this motor there were no cables or control box with it . . . just a motor on a home made roll-around stand. So, I picked up what was needed to get the motor useable. The installation went well, but no where (even checked out an Evinrude book at the library) did it mention how to adjust these cables. Yes, the book touched on it . . . but to a non-ouboard mechanic, the description left a lot to be desired. Anyway, the darn thing worked. That said, I've always been haunted by whether I had done the right thing. (I go back to the days of cars with column shift transmissions and linkage!). So, your idea to look at the linkage sounds good to me. God willing, that will fix the problem. I might have a question or two as this thing progresses, so I hope you don' t mind if I ask of you again (or anyone else on this very helpful forum).

Going out to look for lower unit lube now.

Thanks to you and the others for the great advice.

Gary
Clinton, NJ