Evinrude 1956 15HP won’t shift

[Aaron Trotter]

Hey all I have a 1956 evinrude 15hp. Runs great but won’t shift.

I read some on here and I took off the 1×2 inch plate on the starboard side above gear case. The rod moves up and down just fine it looks like. It’s hand shift and tiller

 

Not sure where to go next.

thank you all!

[lindy46]

If the rod moves up and down when you move the shift lever and it isn’t going into gear, there is a problem in the lower unit. What exactly is happening? If you put the shift lever in forward and yank on the starter, does the prop turn? When in the water and in gear, does the motor rev up but go nowhere? There are several possibilities.

[frankr]

Remove prop and check shear pin

[Aaron Trotter]

Yes when I rev in forward in the water the prop spins but it’s not under a load? If that makes sense. It just free spins.

If I put it in forward I can free spin the prop just like if it was in neutral. But haven’t paid attention to if I pull start rope in forward if it spins.

my boat is housed at my parents and I live an hour away but can go back to trouble shoot tomorrow evening.

[lindy46]

Yes, as Frank mentioned, first check shear pin. Also check the shift coupling in the little window on the side of the leg. Make sure both upper and lower shift rods are firmly attached in the coupling. Shifting into forward moves the assembly upwards. If one or both the shift rods are loose in the coupling shifting won’t pull the lower shift rod up and the gearcase won’t engage. There are two bolts on the coupling which secure the shift rods. Make sure they are tight.

[Aaron Trotter]

I took prop nut off and prop off and shear pin is toast. Thank you guys!

When putting it back together how tight should the prop nut be?

also do I measure the pin and find something close or is there a place to put a replacement? If I find my own what should it be made from?

thank you!!

[frankr]

Just snug the nut to where you can still get the cotter pin in.  Use a stainless steel cotter pin.  Shear pin is 3/16″ diameter stainless steel, length to match the slot in the prop hub.

[jeff-register]

easy way to get a new shear pin is use an old drill bit the correct size. Or buy an inexpensive new bit for use or spare.

[boscovius]

I would look up the part number and run the correct shear pin.  Just out of an abundance of caution.  The shear pin was designed to give out at a certain level of force, such as if the prop hit a rock or something.  It is there to fail before the prop strike can damage your engine internals.  Hopefully you find this useful.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aomci.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fattachments%2FProp%2520Chart%2520Johnson.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=7a09906df174ab78649234d9ed46c550459c48233422af6d2390ddb45c022fa5&ipo=images

[Mumbles]

What was your old pin made of, stainless or brass?

Since your Fastwins prop has a rubber hub which should slip when hitting something hard,  Evinrude originally called for a stainless drive pin, 3/16 X 1-3/16 in this case. Not a brass shear pin.

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