'77 Merc 500 Thunderbolt, reverse locking rod installation questions
#1
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Thread Starter
'77 Merc 500 Thunderbolt, reverse locking rod installation questions
As we were putting on the lower unit we realized that the reverse lock rod was missing, the rod that causes the motor to clamp down when in reverse and keeps it from climping up.
I found a replacement but of course now the motor is together! If I remove the clevis I can get the rod close to where it needs to be in the motor frame. My question is... can this rod be installed without removing the lower unit? Is it a mattrer of getting it in the right place and it dropping in or is it not possibble?
I found a replacement but of course now the motor is together! If I remove the clevis I can get the rod close to where it needs to be in the motor frame. My question is... can this rod be installed without removing the lower unit? Is it a mattrer of getting it in the right place and it dropping in or is it not possibble?
#2
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Thread Starter
Update
I bit the bullet and pulled the lower unit again, I found that it wasn't making it thru that winged looking plastic guide. I slid it up thru the bottom and now I think that it may be the wrong rod! When the locking dogs are up and the clevis is right where it would be pinned in, the shaft is 3" lower than the shift shaft! It also seems like nothing that I do gets the angle right. The way that I see it, this rod should be maybe 1/2" to 1" lower than the shifter shaft so that it hits the reverse cam..right?
Questions:
1. are there more than just a long shaft and a short shaft rod?
2. should mine be an "S" shape or straight, this one is "S" shaped
3. this one is 11 7/8" long
4. should this rod go thru the plastic guide that the shift shaft goes thru? It has a hole the same diameter as this rod but there is enough room for it not to go thru it in the area that is hollowed out in the casting. I ask because it just doesn't seem to get the right angle.
Questions:
1. are there more than just a long shaft and a short shaft rod?
2. should mine be an "S" shape or straight, this one is "S" shaped
3. this one is 11 7/8" long
4. should this rod go thru the plastic guide that the shift shaft goes thru? It has a hole the same diameter as this rod but there is enough room for it not to go thru it in the area that is hollowed out in the casting. I ask because it just doesn't seem to get the right angle.
#4
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Thread Starter
Update 2
I found out that the rod that I got came off of a blue band 2 cylinder Merc 500, I don't know if that matters, but the place where I bought it is looking for a blue band 4 cylinder motor to compare the rod length and shape.
I did have it confirmed that the rod comes down thru the plastic guide... I kinda figured but wanted to be sure.
I did have it confirmed that the rod comes down thru the plastic guide... I kinda figured but wanted to be sure.
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Update 3
Turns out that my reverse rod should be 9 1/2" long, this one is 11 7/8". I spoke to the seller and he says that he has the correct one. I'm waiting for it to arrive in the mail... sure hope it doesn't take 6 weeks like the first one!
#6
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Thread Starter
Finally.. an update. After getting the wrong part 3 times from a TOTALLY INCOMPETENT parts dealer, I'm ready to reassemble. BTW, if you want to PM me privately, I will GLADLY tell you who this O.C. California so-called dealer is! Now he is screwing with my money and I had to rat him out to Discover card to try and get my money back!
Any way..... I have everything now, but I have questions. My Merc is one of those with the extension piece in the driveshaft cover. I have this funky looking black plastic winged guide that I don't know where it goes. Obviously the shift shaft and the shifter rod goes thru it, the part that the shift rod goes thru is tapered so I am assuming that the tapered part faces down??
So far I realize that it can't go on top of the shift cam, the extension cover won't fit on. It won't fit up inside of the bottom of the extension piece. It doesn't seem to fit in the round winged slot on top of the extension housing either. The only place that I do not know for sure is if it fits in the upper drive shaft piece. The boat is in storage at a friends house and I would have to go get the boat to see. I may do that anyway since I bought a new trolling that needs mounted now.
Obviously this guide slides over the shift shaft and the shifter rod somewhere, the question is where?
Any way..... I have everything now, but I have questions. My Merc is one of those with the extension piece in the driveshaft cover. I have this funky looking black plastic winged guide that I don't know where it goes. Obviously the shift shaft and the shifter rod goes thru it, the part that the shift rod goes thru is tapered so I am assuming that the tapered part faces down??
So far I realize that it can't go on top of the shift cam, the extension cover won't fit on. It won't fit up inside of the bottom of the extension piece. It doesn't seem to fit in the round winged slot on top of the extension housing either. The only place that I do not know for sure is if it fits in the upper drive shaft piece. The boat is in storage at a friends house and I would have to go get the boat to see. I may do that anyway since I bought a new trolling that needs mounted now.
Obviously this guide slides over the shift shaft and the shifter rod somewhere, the question is where?