Honda 40 shifting problem

C

Chuckpacific

New member
Last night as I was leaving my anchorage near Lemon Island I realized that one of my Honda 40s was not in gear. I motored back to the slip on the other engine (glad to have two). Once there I raised both engines and saw that the shift rod on the bad engine was disconnected where they are briefly visible on the back of the engine. There is a long nut on the upper rod that enables it to be connected to the lower shifting rod or lever. The shifting rod has a regular size nut that probably helps lock the longer one. I refastened them but now I can’t get it into reverse. Anyone out there ever run into this kind of a problem and if so what fix-it-yourself advice can you give me or should I just take it into the dealer.

Thanks,

Chuck
 
Chuck-

The long nut is probably an adjustment device that works like a turnbuckle, allowing for adjustment in the length of the throw of the rod, and yes, the smaller one a locking nut.

Can you get the motor into reverse with the lever disconnected from the long nut and shifting by hand? If so, you probably just don't have the length of the throw adjusted right when the long nut is attached.

Shift the motor into reverse manually, feeling when the lever centers itself as the reverse gear is fully engaged. There is probably a "detent" in the system that you can feel when it is centered in gear. Mark the position of the lever somehow to note this position.

Shut the motor off and reconnect the shift lever/cable end and adjust it to take up slack with the helm control shifted to reverse. Check to see that the shifting of the helm lever into neutral and back into reverse leaves the lever in the marked position when in reverse.

Start the motor and see if it shifts comfortably through the gears or needs further adjustment, etc. Tighten the locking nut when satisfied everything's OK.

I don't have the same motor as you do, but this is how stuff like this usually works!

Hope this helps!

Joe.
 
Joe,

You have explained it perfectly. I should be able to make the necessary check and repair. It seems to me that the long nut adjustment is a critical one and in fact may even be only a partial turn because the thread length and the long nut length are not that great (maybe 5/8-3/4"). I was just glad that it wasn't a more serious problem. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks.

Chuck
 
Chuck --

Yes -- we had precisely the same problem -- and it happened shortly after a servicing of the Honda engines (by a Honda mechanic) who had failed to properly connect the shifting lever after the servicing.

We were facing upriver tied to a dock (on a fast moving river), with dock on port side and rocky shore a few tens of feet on starboard -- tight spot. We had a couple with an infant baby aboard. With both engines running, left the dock with port engine ahead, starboard in reverse (to spin the boat in the tight spot) -- and the starboard engine failed to shift due to the same problem you had. Boat barely turned without hitting the rocky shore (by reversing the port engine after it was right angles to dock and shore). Now too close to shore, in fast moving current to get back to dock -- below us, a large barge was tied to shore. Finally clear of rocks, gunned the port engine(and only engine functioning) and (now under the high prow of the parked barge, with current thundering under the barge bow) barely cleared the bow and got into the river. It was a near tragedy (especially for the baby) if we had been plastered against the bow of the barge, and Halcyon had rolled under the barge due to fast current.

Finally back to a nearby boat ramp, still shaking from the incident, Joe's suggested fix took care of the problem.

I called the dealer, not angry, but to tell him the problem so he could doublecheck those nuts to assure it never happened to someone else. THAT part WAS unsatisfactory. He defended his "overworked" service man and essentially said "tough luck" and don't bother him with such trivia. Needless to say, we have had no further connection with that dealer.

What did we learn? Don't trust engines to properly function in a tight spot (that was my fault), don't trust a mechanic to properly service an engine, and don't think that all Honda dealers are concerned about the quality of their service (even when a safety issue is at stake).
 
El and Bill,

Coincidence....I recently had the engines maintained. Not being a mechanic I never thought to check that connection. I'm glad I was in open, unobstructed water because I don't think I would been as cool as you were. Glad you made it out OK. Thanks for the perspective.

Chuck
 
I ain't mean. In fact, I just contributed to your boat gas fund by buying a jug of Stone Wolf. That stuff isn't cheap unless you get it at Cathlamet during the once-a-year special. Think they'll ever put it in one of them boxes with a spigot?

I can't help with your problem, but maybe you can incorporate some Chrysler engineering genius into it and rig the boat horn to honk if your shifter doesn't fully engage.

You going to make it all the way down the river this summer?
 
Tyboo, you'll never see Stone Wolf in a box with a spigot, and your purchase of a bottle doesn't do Chuck's gas fund any good, he's a buddy, not a partner. Although, he gives me rides and I give him wine

If you really like the wine, I'll make sure that you get wholesale on a case if you want to visit the winery in McMinnville (any C-Brat, for that matter).

Imagine, pork fried rice and pinot noir.......

Wineman
 
I feel like I hit the trifecta...I post and get replies from Sea Wolf Joe, Tyboo and Dusty! First of all, thanks to Joe and Bill/El...I reattached the shift rod per your instructions and everything works fine. Secondly, Mike, I plan on bringing my boat to Cathlamet in two weeks and leaving it until after Labor Day. You'll probably see me hanging around then.

Chuck
 
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