Kicking out of gear

[nickatnight]

I have a 1989 120hp V4 Evinrude, when trolling I can't seem to get the speed below 3mph when I do get it below, it kicks out of gear. Any thoughts?

 

[racerone]

????----Strange that it kicks out of gear at low power.----Have you checked shift rod height ?-----What kind of control box ?----Recent water pump work done ?------Checked gear oil in lower unit?-----Remember that no one can see or touch your motor.

 

[nickatnight]

I just put in a brand-new lower unit; new water pump and I played close attention to the correct height of the rod. It was also kicking out of gear with the old unit.

 

[racerone]

Inspect the control box and cables.----Review your understanding of how the control box works !11---Have an assistant operated the control box as you observe linkages.-----Turn prop while shifting.------It sounds like you are trying to slow the idle down with the control box and the shift takes it out of gear as designed.----.------You should be slowing the idle down on the motor !!!------Adjust the idle stop screw on the motor.------The first motion of the control shifts the motor.-----Then the control adds throttle.-------Everything is working as designed.-----Just not adjusted correctly.----Sounds like an expensive misunderstanding on how it all works.

 

[nickatnight]

Thanks for all your insight, I will check all those issues out.

Thanks again.

 

[racerone]

Post a solution to this issue.

 

[nickatnight]

I will.

 

[nickatnight]

It was an idling issue and an linkage issue, (reset neutral it was favoring reverse) Thanks again for all your advice.

 

[racerone]

You likely have a good spare lower unit.----Good trouble shooting beats guess work every time.