outboard shifter balky

[Jack Betts]

On the Nissan 3.5B outboard we use as the engine for our dinghy on a 37-foot sailboat, the shifter has become hard to move -- still moveable, but takes effort. Is anyone familiar with this problem? The lower unit has ample lubrication. The removable plate in front of the shifter shaft shows very little lubricant -- but I don't know whether to pack it with grease, some other lubricant or -- yikes! -- take it in to the shop. The owners manual does not address the problem, and I'm hoping someone knows a home remedy. Thanks.

 

[Patrick Neeley]

Shifter

Sounds like you might need to drain and replace the oil in the lower unit of your motor. If it gets water in through the shift seal the salt can corrode or solidify around the seal and cause it to be hard shifting. Had that happen on an old OB a while ago. Had to use a bottle jack rigged to jack the foot away from the motor due to this solid salt plug that had formed. Needless to say, it ruined the OB. It was an old one though and not a big loss.

 

[Rich]

Be careful

I just last night went to buy a 3.5 hp Nissan outboard. I wanted the model with the shifter. Unfortunately the one I bought came with a broken shift lever. So....you may want to be careful when jiggling the shift lever...it's apparently quite fragile.BTW...what size dinghy are you using? I'm just curious because there's some concerned about the dink being underpowered by a 3.5hp.

 

[Jack Betts]

reply to Rich

Rich: We use it to power a Zodiac Cadet (8 1/2 foot) roll-up dinghy. At 41 pounds, the dinghy is easy to deflate, tie on deck beneath the staysail, inflate on deck, launch and recover, and the approximately 40-pound weight of the Nissan 3.5 is easy to get on and off the pushpit mount with a little block and tackle and a Rube Goldberg motor davit -- paramount concerns for my 55-year-old back. The dink and engine are enough to get us around harbors and gunkholes, but I would not like to be out in a blow without more boat and more power.