Stiff Shifting 1995 40HP with 703 control box

[michael*]

Hello all,

New user and I have a question for the group. My dad has just purchased an old boat and he has a good amount of "shade tree" experience..

He has removed and cleaned the shift rod with the spring loaded ball detents. This improved the shifting somewhat. He also inspected the gears themselves and they looked normal. Not rounded or chipped.

It almost takes 2 hands to shift from neutral to forward or reverse and the same going back to neutral from either gear while connected to the outboard engine.

The lever on the control box moves freely when not connected to the outboard. And the lever on the outboard moves from forward to neutral to reverse and all the way back to forward very easily when not connected to the cables.

Is it possible that once the cables are connected to the outboard and the control lever is moved to shift gears it causes some type of binding in the control box? He is thinking about using an old dual lever control box and I'm checking to see if the 703 box could be the problem.

Lastly, if that is the problem would it be serviceable or would it need total replacement?

Thanks to all for your help.

Michael

[jb123]

the 703's can be a lil tricky
have him open up the 703 box, lift up choke mechanism halfway up and reassemble
if not dont this way it will bind up
secondly, unhook both cable ends and it should slide freely by hand
there may be a hard bend somewhere as well

[robert graham]

Maybe time for a new set of cables?....

[99yam40]

new cables would help as would trying to lubricate the old ones and eliminating sharp bends.

While holding disconnected cables vertical put some lube on them were it can run into the inside while moving it back and forth.
hook back up and move cable around changing the bend to see how the bend affects the stiffness of movement.

New cables should fix it long term

[rodbolt17]

me loves shade tree backyardigans.
means not only can I bill for the original issue but I get to bill for repairing the self inflicted wounds.

if the engine shifter moves freely with the cables off , why bother to inspect the case?

try having someone place a light pressure on the cable,dissconected, and try to shift.

most likely a cable is failing.

the 703 box is rock solid and stupidly simple to deal with.

mechanically that box has been the same since about 1984.

[michael*]

Stiff shifting

Thanks for all the kind replies!!!

Now we have a direction to go and I'll let y'all know how it works

Michael