1993 C85 Lower unit

[dannyope]

Anyone out there know a way to put the lower unit into neutral manually?
(LU removed to have seals replaced by my local marina/yamaha tech).
Seems to be stuck in forward or reverse gear. Just want to manually put in neutral and make sure console is in neutral before reinstalling LU.
TIA
Dan

[boscoe99]

Pad the splines on the shift shaft and use a set of pliers to shift the lower unit into neutral.

[dannyope]

shift shaft

thanks......not quite sure how that's done. The LU is off of the boat. I attempted to turn the engine shaft cw while positioning the shift shaft with the padded pliers.....nothing seems to change. The shift shaft gear seems to turn 180 either direction and seems to have no impact on it changing from f/n/r.....
TIA

[panasonic]

thanks......not quite sure how that's done. The LU is off of the boat. I attempted to turn the engine shaft cw while positioning the shift shaft with the padded pliers.....nothing seems to change. The shift shaft gear seems to turn 180 either direction and seems to have no impact on it changing from f/n/r.....
TIA

What seals did they replace? All of them?

If they replaced the shift shaft seal and had that shaft out of the L/U, it is possible that the shift "CAM" down inside the lower unit is now 180 degrees out and needs to be put back in the proper position. (check parts diagram item #58)

I would bring it back to the shop you had the seals done at and let them sort it out.

[99yam40]

If that 85 is like my C40 you can turn the SS 360 without hurting anything.
Just need to find neutral before stabbing it back into motor.

Should be spring loaded into forward, so you have to overcome the spring to get to neutral and reverse

[panasonic]

If that 85 is like my C40 you can turn the SS 360 without hurting anything.
Just need to find neutral before stabbing it back into motor.

Should be spring loaded into forward, so you have to overcome the spring to get to neutral and reverse

Yes exactly....cam is facing wrong way around. Think shop would have checked that for him before giving it back to him.

[99yam40]

may have been,
easy to knock out of where it should be when manhandling the unit

[dannyope]

C85 lu

I handeled the LU with care, installed as I have in the past with no problems....
thanks for the info and I will return to the shop to have them sort it out.
What do you think they have to do put it back to normal?

[pstephens46]

I handeled the LU with care, installed as I have in the past with no problems....
thanks for the info and I will return to the shop to have them sort it out.
What do you think they have to do put it back to normal?

I was warned not to lift up on that shift shaft while changing the seals. So I didn't. I would guess a mechanic could re-align it pretty quickly.

Where is Rodbolt? May be back in Mobile....hard times.

[dannyope]

C85 lu

Thank's all for the reply's...reinstalling the LU has always been easy!!!
Now it's a pain, oh well. The shop that replaced the seals has always provided good service, hope they continue to do so.......

[99yam40]

as said just turn the shift shaft until you get it into neutral

[dannyope]

Just got back from the Marina and the tech was able to manually put it into neutral. He mentioned that there should be more "detent" keeping it in place while reinstalling the LU. He says that there may be a worn part causing the shift shaft to move just a little and go back into gear before being seating properly........He mentioned that while holding the shift shaft with a small pair of vice grips to guide the sshaft into the nylon piece that holds the shift rod. Am I taking a chance that since the sshaft is tempermental that it may "pop" back out while in use? if so looking at an expnsive repair or replacement. Any thoughts?
TIA, Dan

[dannyope]

Looks like that shift shaft was 180 out, moved to proper position and ss stayed in place, neutral, without the use of vicegrips while installing LU. tested F/N/R, looks good now. Will baby it during our first trip this season.
Thanks!

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Looks like that shift shaft was 180 out, moved to proper position and ss stayed in place, neutral, without the use of vicegrips while installing LU. tested F/N/R, looks good now. Will baby it during our first trip this season.
Thanks!

Yep, with the rest of the linkages going up thru the engine, that'll help keep it from flopping about..

Obviously, if it jumps out of gear on it's own, what ever sets the dent, will need attention...

[99yam40]

told you, just did not want to listen