Outboard Trouble

[Wolverine]

My 2009 Tohatsu 4hp/4 cycle/long shaft outboard didn't have a strong stream of water discharging so I replaced the impeller and cleaned out the lines with an air hose. Now that it's reassembled, there doesn't seem to be a neutral. The propeller turns when using the pull cord. I placed my boot against the prop,(sparkplug removed) to keep it from moving but without success. I assume something went wrong with the shaft rod during assembly.

[Wolverine]

I put the o/b in the drum and gave it a pull. Started up but now all I have is forward. If I move it into forward or reverse, I'm unable to pull the cord like it should be, but while running the shifter doesn't change gears.

[Riley Smith]

The shift linkage is not correct probably. It's too tight and won't let the rod move to N or R.

[Doug SC]

In my experience replacing the impeller on my 5hp Nissan (Tohatsu) it is a tricky thing to connect the shifting linkage in the right place. I try to scratch the drive shaft rod at the point of connection before disconnecting now. I suspect that you will have to open the access opening (on my OB it is a round rubber pop-in piece) and try to reposition it to get it to work properly.

[Wolverine]

After what felt like hours of trial and error adjustments all is working properly. I looked at my Nissan to see how much of the shift rod was sticking out in neutral/reverse/forward and started adjustments until it worked. Then a fuel line ripped so I replaced that. Now the gas cap is leaking. 😤

[Doug SC]

Better to break while on land!

[Wolverine]

I have the worse luck with small outboards. That is why I am bringing 2 with me on the keys trip.

[Riley Smith]

Ahem! Just the way I think but in MY view, you can speak something into reality! SO.......DON'T!!!!

Good luck with the currently running motor! Yay!

[Wolverine]

Years ago I brought 3 outboards with us to CLR, a small boat get together in southern IL. I went through all 3 before the week was over. I ended the week using a friend's Cruise N Carry. As funny as the tiny motor looked hanging off the stern, it got us around.

CLR = Carlyle Lake Rendezvous. When I have all the information for next's year event, I'll post it here.

[rfrance0718]

I'm impressed that you were able to get the drive shaft to fit into its socket in the power head. That's where I ran into problems. Solved eventually.

[Wolverine]

A friend had replaced the impeller this past spring. He took it apart and had it back together in less than 15 minutes. It took me many, many tries and several YouTube videos to get it back together. Surprisingly, I kept my cool through it, which is not like me. The main reason I usually pay to have these things done.

[Doug SC]

I'm impressed that you were able to get the drive shaft to fit into its socket in the power head. That's where I ran into problems. Solved eventually.

I am very, very careful not to rotate the drive shaft when I pull the foot.

[Ziradog]

Years ago I brought 3 outboards with us to CLR, a small boat get together in southern IL. I went through all 3 before the week was over. I ended the week using a friend's Cruise N Carry. As funny as the tiny motor looked hanging off the stern, it got us around.

CLR = Carlyle Lake Rendezvous. When I have all the information for next's year event, I'll post it here.

My grandfather used to have a 10 hp Scott-Atwater clamped on the stern of his boat and a 3 hp Lauson under a tarp in the bow.  The Lauson was usually what brought him home (inland lake).

[Riley Smith]

I had the motor on the center console running and it needed a test on the water. I ALSO had to go to Africa later in the day. You know, the late flight. Dwyer convinced me he'd help, and we headed out the West Pascagoula River towards Horn Island. The wind was out of the north and I knew the north shore of the island  was going to be rough with the long fetch. And it was. We cruised the beach a little from ¼ mile out and fished a drop or two, but it was too rough, so we headed back and couldn't resist a turn about the bay in front of the house. Somewhere in all that we shut the engine down to do whatever you do when you shut the engine down. I can't remember if we were fishing or not, but anyway, the damn Mercury would NOT crank.
Yeah, I have to be in Africa in the morning and this hunk of iron won't run. Dwyer, who owned the boat previously, removed the cowling after the battery died, and cranked the horses by hand. It fired on the second pull and just like that I was going to Africa. With no break and rest beforehand either, it was get home, shower and leave.
 I hated that trip too, a month of never-ending work. Let me tell you folks, I'm so glad to live in the United States of America, warts and all. We'd get TWO WHOLE HOURS extra on Sunday. It felt like a holiday and I'd get to think about something other than schedules, manpower, equipment, and parts. Good thing I don't hardly drink; that one might have turned me into an alcoholic. It did to some. I think the thing that decided me was when my South African buddy had a heart attack in the middle of the night. They flew him to Lagos (after a while) and then he spent a couple of weeks in the hospital before passing away. His widow was tasked with getting the body home.
 Nope, that's enough, I'm outta here. THIS ole boy didn't want to buried in some Nigerian swamp!