Does this sound like a gearcase issue?

[Rustyhook]

175949R 1979 175 Evinrude

Motor was stuck in fwd, would not shift into to N or Rev.

Little black linkage piece was broken, replaced it. Still no Rev.
When shifting it by hand, I can feel a really hard thumping (ratcheting) feeling back through the linkage. It seems the rod height is fine and it engages fwd okay. I noticed the idle seems fast and I believe the prior owners wore out rev gear and dog teeth.

With engine off, the rev. shift can be made fine by rotating the flywheel and working the linkage, but no way with the engine running.

Any thoughts?
Rustyhook

[SEAHORSE]

You will need a professional to check the linkage adjustments, shift rod height, engine shift lever for bending, and perhaps opening up the gearcase to see the reverse gear and clutch dog condition.

If it is used in saltwater, corrosion in the linkage is a common problem where stiff shifting can break the plastic link.

[gearcaseman]

Sounds very much like the engagement dogs on the gear as well as the clutch are probably worn. If this is the case, a complete teardown of the unit is necessary to replace or repair these two parts.

[Rustyhook]

Do all of the gears have to be replaced as a set? Or could just the clutch dog and rev. gear be replaced?

Rustyhook

[gearcaseman]

You can replace just the reverse gear, this is O.K. I still have some new one's if needed, as well as the C.D.