Trying to fix shifting on '74(?) Evinrude 15HP

There are two problems. First is that you can’t really feel that your shifting when you switch gears. Instead of a “click” when moving the gears it’s more like a light pressure that you overcome and it feels sloppy. The second and bigger problem is that when in forward gear it will slip back to neutral occasionally when over half throttle. This can be overcome by putting a bungee cord around the shift lever to keep it held forward.

If I take this apart what parts should I be looking at? I don’t see anything directly attached to shift lever that looks like it would give it more definition between gears, is that controlled just by the linkage in the lower unit?

I also saw some videos about clutch dogs and it sounded like a worn out one would let it slip back into neutral. If that is bad though I don’t understand how the bungee cord would keep it gear.

Other than those two things I don’t know what else to look for. Anything else I should be checking when I get it apart?

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/BRP/EVINRUDE/parts.html

This site has helped me many times, may do the same for you. I already linked you to 74′ Evinrude.

By the sounds of your issues there must be a system that has a ball/pin/spring clip that keeps pressure somewhere between the shift lever to the gear case that is not functioning properly. That would explain why the bungie (which keeps pressure on the linkage) is keeping the issue from happening.

What model do you have?
This is a pic from model 15404G Exhaust housing diagram. Maybe part #78 or other things in its area are the culprit?

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mark-bruzek wrote:

This site has helped me many times, may do the same for you. I already linked you to 74′ Evinrude.

Thanks, those diagrams will be helpful, I’ll check it out more when I get home and see what the actual model number is.

I added to my original post, please check it.

mark-bruzek wrote:

I added to my original post, please check it.

Oh, I must have posted while you were editing. I’m not sure what the model is right now. I’ll take a look tonight and check the stuff in that diagram to start with and let you know. Thanks for finding that!

I have the same motor with the same issue… It was a clutch dog for me

Reef W wrote:

There are two problems. The second and bigger problem is that when in forward gear it will slip back to neutral occasionally when over half throttle. This can be overcome by putting a bungee cord around the shift lever to keep it held forward.

I also saw some videos about clutch dogs and it sounded like a worn out one would let it slip back into neutral.

Bingo on the clutch dogs. When they get worn bad enough even the bungee will not help. Time to tear apart and repair is now, actually past time to get this done. I’d also be checking for worn shifter linkage as long as the motor will be torn down anyway.

You might be money ahead to just purchase a rebuilt lower unit from a marine salvage and rebuild yard.

Here is what you are up against for clutch dog parts.
I have taken apart lower unit gear cases on 93′ yammi, it was fairly easy with a mechanical aptitude but I have done work on this vintage Evinrude 10hp. I had to replace a water pump for a friend and there were parts corroded and to make a long story short the drive shaft pulled off from the end gear in the lower unit which required me to disassemble the entire gear case. It was a bit stressful being that a routine water impeller job turned into a lower unit job too but it went back together fine. I would not undertake this procedure if you are not mechanically inclined…

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