jumps out of gear
 

I have a 94 MX20 with a Mercruiser 5.0L Alpha one. I had some problems at the end of last year and had to pull the lower unit to replace some seals. Just put it in for the first time this spring. It goes into gear and is fine a low speeds but when it gets on plane and the RPM's get to about 4000 it jumps out of gear. If I throttle down, and drop out of plane, it will jump back in gear. It also jumps out if I give it full throttle to start.

Is it a shift cable/linkage or is it something in the lower unit.

Thanks for your help.

Re: jumps out of gear
 

Sounds like the shift cable got knocked outta wack. Check adjustment and make sure the cable isn't binding. Also make sure the shift interupt switch is working correctly.
If you don't have a factory manual , get one. (they are available here as a PDF if you are a paid member)
BTW........Welcome to MOC!

Larry

Re: jumps out of gear
 

I tried adjusting the cable and nothing changed. It still shifts to forward and stays in until I hit about 4500 RPM. then It jumps out of gear and the engine revs up. if I throttle down slowly it kicks back into gear at about 3000 rpm. If this means anything, at the end of the last year I lent the boat out and she hit a large rock and broke the prop. Also, and I don't kow if this means anything, it seems like the throttle shift does not move as far forward as it used to.

Thanks again for your help and how do I get to be a paid member?

Re: jumps out of gear
 

I spoke with the loacl boat mechanic and he suggestedI change the coupler, he had a use one at a reasonalbe price. I pulled the boat under a tree with a big branch and used a two ton hoist to pull the engine and change out the coupler. It runs liike a champ now.

Re: jumps out of gear
 

Thanks for letting us know the fix. I'm sure that someone that has this problem will REALLY appreciate it.