Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1969 Fastwin shift linkage adjustment?
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frankr.
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March 17, 2017 at 3:06 pm #6554
I picked up a 69 Fastwin a month or two ago from a guy that claimed it had only 60 pounds of compression and wouldn’t start. He had the head laying in the pan when I arrived to look at it so, after checking the gasket for any signs of being blown and finding none, I bolted it up just snug, hooked up my gauge and gave it a couple of pulls. I got between 110 and 115 on both holes. I checked for spark and got nothing. I think spark was the real issue. Anyway, I have had two bad compression gauges and they both maxed out at 60 lbs so I just had to check this one out. The PO had taken the head to a mechanic that told him the gasket wasn’t the problem as it wasn’t blown out and didn’t look bad at all. After informing the PO about the spark problem he had been unaware of, he asked me to make him an offer that wasn’t an insult and he would probably let it go. Apparently, my first offer was below his insult line. 😆 We agreed on $70 or $75 I don’t remember which.
I found the ignition to be in very good shape, the points and coils looked new in fact. I removed the points and cleaned the grunge off the contacts and now it has bright blue lightning snapping nearly a 1/2 inch. Groovy. I put in a new head gasket though the original looked fine. 115/120. Cleaned the carb and replaced the needle and seat (they were probably fine) and gave it new gaskets. After I figured out that I had the choke upside down and a reminder lesson in why link and sync is so important to proper idle, I think she is running pretty good. The problem is reverse. It won’t stay in gear unless you hold it backwards a little. It kinda ticks and almost engages.
So, is there an adjustment on shift lever travel on this motor?
Sorry so long winded. I get kinda excited when I get one going again. Any other issues I should check for? The motor is incredibly clean under the cowling. No dust or dirt. Even the old grease is still whitish yellow. If I can fix the shifter issue it will probably be a good one.
March 17, 2017 at 3:50 pm #54458First check for looseness in the shift linkage. All else is in vain if there is looseness. Remove the oval plate on the midsection and peer in as you move the shifter lever (you may have to spin the prop to move the shifter). When you move the shifter, the shift rod (behind the oval plate) should move up and down with no delay. When one moves the other must move. An alternate check is to see if you can move the shift rod without moving the shifter.
OK, now for the adjustment. There is a slight adjustment possible. Observe the pin on the shifter that rides in the ramps on the vertical interlock bar.. While spinning the prop, slowly move the shifter. You should feel the gears click as they begin to engage. That should happen equally as the pin leaves the neutral notch in the interlock bar toward forward & reverse. Adjustment is made by loosening the two screws that hold the shifter handle to the shaft.
Of course, adjustment is not the problem 90% of the time. It’s usually a worn out clutch dog and forward gear, which in turn beats the linkage to death. People "fix" the worn out dog by turning it end for end. That transfers the problem to reverse—-as you are experiencing.
March 17, 2017 at 4:29 pm #54462Thanks Frank. I will give those things a look see.
I guess folks figure they can hold it in reverse long enough to back up.
March 17, 2017 at 6:02 pm #54469Frank confirmed that my initial thought of this motor not having adjustment as I stated in thought was the case on your youtube channel was incorrect. This adjustment is small, but it can be enough to throw things off. Frank outlined the adjustment perfectly. As you already know from my YouTube comment, We also agree about the clutch dog.
You got a nice motor there Mark. You’ll get it worked out. Might as well replace the shaft seals in the gearcase too while you have it open for the clutch dog (assuming it needs replacing).
-BenOldJohnnyRude on YouTube
March 17, 2017 at 11:32 pm #54486Did OMC ever put the detent balls and spring in the prop shaft of the 22 cubic inch motors like they did in the 33 & 40 horse twins. That really helped them stay in gear. . . 🙂
March 18, 2017 at 12:29 am #54487Frank and Ben, I may have gotten lucky. I pulled off the oval plate to take a look at the linkage and noticed that the carbon was rubbed off the shift rod to about 3/16 below the connector. It looks like the lower rod is slipping a bit. I tightened it down as tight as I dared in that brass fitting. I worked the shift handle and did not notice any other looseness. I will try it tomorrow and see if things lock up like they are supposed to. Or, maybe this is the "beating the linkage to death" Frank mentioned. I can hope.
March 18, 2017 at 12:49 am #54492That 3/16" could be enough to make it jump out. Hope it works! That’s quite a bit of slop for that clamp even if it’s loose since the screw fits the groove in the shift rod. Here’s hoping it works out though.
-BenOldJohnnyRude on YouTube
March 18, 2017 at 1:59 am #54499quote Fisherman6:That 3/16″ could be enough to make it jump out. Hope it works! That’s quite a bit of slop for that clamp even if it’s loose since the screw fits the groove in the shift rod. Here’s hoping it works out though.
-BenThat did confuse me when I looked at the groove in the shift rod. I don’t know how it was slipping but it definitely was. I worked the shift lever through all three notches a few times and it seemed to be holding good. It was locking into forward and hopefully it does the same for reverse.
March 18, 2017 at 2:56 am #54500Did you tighten the clamp while it was locked in forward gear? Or at least make sure all of the portion of the shift rod that showed the carbon rubbed off was exposed out the bottom of the clamp?
-BenOldJohnnyRude on YouTube
March 18, 2017 at 7:19 pm #54525Sometimes ya get lucky. I put the Fastwin back in the barrel this morning and fired it up. It is shifting from neutral into both forward and reverse and is staying in gear under the limited amount of throttle I can give a motor that size in my barrel. I am optimistic that maybe that was the problem.
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