help, please Yamaha t60 2005 -- I screwed up something!

[yowoodchuck]

I hope in this learned group, someone can offer some ideas on what to do.  I pulled the boat out last December, and changed lower unit oil and upper head oil and filter.  I then dropped the lower unit, carefully ... unhooked the water speedo tube and changed the impeller.  The housing and plate looked great, so I just replaced the gaskets and impeller.  It all reassembled smoothly, and fit tight to the mid section, and I bolted it together.  no problems...all smooth.

Today--I pulled the boat out, put the hose muffs on...and turned the key, . it started right up and ran smooth.  After a few minutes, I shifted into forward---prop did not spin, shifted into reverse--same thing...motor reved up smooth, but nothing on the prop...no sound change, no clunk.

I've never encountered this type of shift mechanism that these yamahas have....just the shift rods on the Johnsons.

Can anyone offer a clue as to what specifically to look at?  The shift control seems to move at the powerhead.  

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[fishinwrench]

Remove the lower unit AGAIN 😂 

Put the shift control in forward gear. 

Manually put the gearcase in forward gear. (Verify by turning the driveshaft clockwise...... the prop shaft should turn clockwise when you do).  

 

At this point.....if you weren't turning the driveshaft clockwise as you pushed the water pump housing over the new impeller.....Remove the housing and do so, to properly align the impeller blades.   Failing to do that will cause reduced water pressure and premature impeller failure. 

Now, reinstall the lower unit, aligning the water tube first, then the driveshaft splines, and finally the shift linkage.  

Once the gearcase is fully drawn up to the exhaust housing, verify that it is still in forward gear.....and that it didn't get bumped back into neutral (prop should not freely spin). 

Then, Shift the controls into neutral and verify that the gearcase is also in neutral (prop should spin freely now).   

 

Grab a beer and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.  👍

[yowoodchuck]

I was afraid that I'd have to drop the lower unit and start over....☹️

However--not that I have received sound procedural advice--I will proceed.

I really appreciate your willingness to help us newbies to the yamaha and other worlds here.

Will report back.  

[yowoodchuck]

Keeps getting bumped going in, snaps to neutral

maybe I should shift to neutral on both ends and try assembly again

cold beer seems far away...

[fishinwrench]

Bumping the prop (even slightly) in the wrong direction will default the gearcase to Neutral.   

The reason you want it in FWD. is so you can muscle the prop counter-clockwise to spline the driveshaft.   Just DON'T let the prop shaft spin clockwise, even the least little bit, or you'll kick it out of FWD. 

I know it sounds confusing.....but once you understand how the shift mechanism works it makes perfect sense.   

[fishinwrench]

Marking your shift linkage with a dot of fingernail polish helps.   

I do this on all Merc and Yamaha shift rods.  

[yowoodchuck]

Rodger to all of that.  I took off the prop, put the throttle control in neutral....put the shift link in neutral testing to be sure it was in neutral, slid it back together, put in a couple of screws in tight...then put the prop on, then shifted the throttle to forward and the prop wouldn't turn...so all back to normal.

It sure doesn't take much to bump that shift linkage out of position...will be aware on all future yamaha impeller changes and will mark the shift linkage.  I now have three friends in Florida who have these 60 through 90 yamahas...

WRENCH--THANKS FOR THE GUIDANCE!!!!

The beer is cold and good...I owe you several.

[fishinwrench]

You are obviously living right if the driveshaft splined ok doing it that way.

Nevertheless....... Perfect job!   🍻

[yowoodchuck]

next time I will understand better and begin by doing it your way--which makes a lot of sense. Could have got the job done right the first time.

Thanks again for the assistance.

 

[fishinwrench]

No problem.   Glad you got'er done. 👍