Lost reverse

[celtic sea]

Hello
It's been a fast summer and pulled our Ericson 27 out on the hard for winter, the atomic 4 & the transmission(1973) worked great all season. Tried to back out of the slip this morning and no reverse? Managed out and headed to the travel lift area and tried it a couple more times and nothing, forward worked fine. Here we go. Looks like I'll be busy on the forum here again. Someone told me a place in Boston has transmissions (used I assume) just change out. Does anyone know about rebuilts available?
Hate to pull everything out and install new.
Thanks
John
Celtic Sea
Ericson 1973 27' A4

[Ball Racing]

Check shifter linkage and cables first.
Then check band adjustment.
Try putting in reverse without the cables hooked up.

[celtic sea]

Ya, thanks next Saturday will be there to run some antifreeze through, I'll check cables first thing, the shift seemed normal and I heard the transmission noise I normally hear when shifted in.
John

[Mo]

Ball racing has good points...do that.

Celtic you probably won't need a replacement. If it was working well before, works in forward an adjustment is likely necessary. Realize you are heading down to winterize. Might be a good opportunity to check and set up the reversing gear as necessary while running freshwater through the engine. Just ensure someone is outside to ensure no one goes near the prop while you are doing it on the hard.

If it was a gradual getting worse thing...likely adjustment. If sudden, likely linkage or key...sometimes a key can go and there will be enough "grab" to give you some forward. Just check everything. If the linkage and key seems fine remove the top plate and go through the adjustment procedure.

[celtic sea]

Thanks great info. It was sudden. I assume if I find nothing obvious external, next is to take that "tombstone" cover off. The key? External?
John

[Mo]

Thanks great info. It was sudden. I assume if I find nothing obvious external, next is to take that "tombstone" cover off. The key? External?
John

Check linkage first...sounds like linkage. The key is in the drive shaft /coupler area. Put the shifter in forward and try to turn the prop by hand...if it turns the key is likely the problem

[celtic sea]

I'll keep posted what I find next trip to the boat.
Fortunately I only live 15min.from the marina.
I definitely plan on repairing the clutch/transmission (whatever I find, I assume there are parts available?) & upgrading/tuning up the motor, not to mention replacing the four thru-hulls with proper seacocks and new hoses.& the list goes on...
John

[roadnsky]

...I definitely plan on repairing the clutch/transmission (whatever I find, I assume there are parts available?) & upgrading/tuning up the motor, not to mention replacing the four thru-hulls with proper seacocks and new hoses.& the list goes on...

John-
Parts available right here on this site by our sponsor.
Not to mention a really good video on the reversing gear (transmission) for just $12

http://www.moyermarine.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?search=action&category=CLIP&keywords=all&template=Templates/B000_storebuilder.html

[celtic sea]

Thanks
Looks like I'm in!. Great forum here! Tks.
Just need to get busy now!
LOL
John

[ndutton]

Great advice guys

Celtic John, BOTH ends of the shift cable need checking to be certain the outer sheath does not move. If you reach a point that the gear cover must be removed, know that the internal reverse linkage is a completely different mechanism and arm than forward. This is where the video could be the best $12 you ever spent. Recognizing proper reverse mechanism function, proper adjustment, the recently discussed adjustment nut locking spring clip integrity, all are possibilities.

Losing reverse must have been exciting. It never happens at a good time.

[celtic sea]

I checked the catalog, wow you can rebuild the whole thing, lotts of parts.
Is there a detailed diagram available for this clutch?
John

[ndutton]

Have you studied Chapter 6 of your MMI Service and Overhaul Manual?

[celtic sea]

Looks like the first thing I need to buy. Third year with this motor and still haven't bought it yet. Thanks for reminding me, I assume there is some diagrams there.
John

[ndutton]

No diagrams but plenty of annotated pictures and excellent descriptive text. I can't imagine the amount of work Don put into the manual.

My interpretation is you're expecting a rebuild or replacement of the reversing gear but like the others, my bet is on the actuating linkage, a much simpler repair. Acquiring reverse is merely cinching a brake band around the gear case. The internal clutch disks are in play only in forward and are released in reverse.

Looking forward to what you find.

[tenders]

I seriously doubt your transmission went from perfect to puked just like that. I don't think you're even going to need to open the engine. Sounds to me like you have a cable in need of adjusting, or the cable has slipped off its anchoring point at the hand shifter end, or the engine end.

Before you do anything else, put the engine in reverse with the cockpit shifter, then go below and see how much farther you can throw the engine lever by hand. You'll probably see it can go farther than the shift cable will move it, for whatever reason (that you are going to fix). Then disconnect the cable from the engine--mine uses a simple clevis pin through a yoke, it takes 15 seconds. Then shift the lever forward and backwards by hand to get a feel for the throw of the lever between forward and reverse. Then figure out what is wrong with the cable.