Stuck Gear Shift

[tekeyman]

I just picked up a 1997 Speedster with twin engine. I'm new to jet boats but have gear oil running through my veins.

I am trying to look everything over and I can't seem to figure this out... I can't seem to shift it out of neutral i get a small but of movement but then i cant push the lever any further toward Forward or reverse.

I was wondering if there is some safety or some lock? Does the key have to be in? I don't understand.

Should it be able to shift back and forth with little effort? Should it be able to shift at all times even when not started? I'm lost.

 

[howie099]

you should be able to move the lever parked or runnung. The boats will only start in neutral. I would pull the lever out and remove the cables and see it it moves ok. Since I see in pic that a screw is missing someone took it apart before. Could have a bent or rusted cable. You can adjust the tension of the levers also.

 

[Dennis]

Not sure but I don't think it will let you shift from neutral unless both throttles are in the idle position. Try quickly working the throttles back and forth a few times (engine off). The shifter/throttle mechanism may just be stuck. :cheers:

P.s. Make sure there is nothing at the rear of the boat jamming the forward/reverse gate.

 

[tekeyman]

So I checked the gates in the back and they appear to move well, the shifter moves about an inch in both directions and also pulls the gates slightly, it just feels like there is some type of safety or something stopping it. I took a pic of both gates as well.

 

[RFoster130]

Dennis is correct. The F-N-R lever will only work with the throttles both all the way down. Make sure they are in the idle position. If all else fair its only a few screws to pull the whole throttle assembly up and out to check it. They feel pretty stiff sometimes.

 

[tekeyman]

Dont I have them all the way in the idle position in the picture?

 

[Dennis]

Yes, they appear to be in the idle position.

 

[howie099]

yep thats the idle position in the pic. Pull the shifter to test it out.

 

[RFoster130]

yeah I'm guilty of not looking at the pic...i would take the little plate off and pull it out and get a look and make sure something isn't binding.

 

[tekeyman]

With lots of gentle moving back and forth I got it to lift the gates up, but its still taking a lot of force. I think everything needs to be oiled up. Wondering if I should go lithium, silicone, or a high viscosity lubricant on the cable and gates?

 

[howie099]

Sounds like the cable. You can try to spray some fuild in the calbe to try to free it up on both ends. You can get a new one on E-Bay or SBT sells them. Usually around $120 for the reverse cable.

 

[howie099]

Might be missing the protective rubbers on the cables that is letting water in the cable also.