Button that is pushed to go into neutral

Ice Cold Peanuts · January 30, 2014, 09:34:04 AM

Has anyone ever had problems pushing that button in? Sometimes it's darn near impossible. I looked in the SELOC and the picture shows too many parts for me to mess with. I was hoping it would be something simple.

Polaris425 · January 30, 2014, 09:52:45 AM

Do you press it often? It could just be froze up due to lack of use, maybe some crud built up behind it? I wonder if you got out there and just worked it a little bit, if it wouldn't loosen up some.

I'm also wondering if it would hurt to spray a little lube around it.

Ice Cold Peanuts · January 30, 2014, 09:59:17 AM

Quote from: Polaris425 on January 30, 2014, 09:52:45 AM
Do you press it often? It could just be froze up due to lack of use, maybe some crud built up behind it? I wonder if you got out there and just worked it a little but, if it wouldn't loosen up some.

I'm also wondering if it would hurt to spray a little lube around it.

I guess it got pushed as much as one would while using the boat. It was late last year when I noticed the difficulty. I DOES look gummed up but I'll try spraying it with something. Thank you

Polaris425 · January 30, 2014, 10:04:20 AM

Maybe take something real thin and try to scrape some of the gunk out? If you can anyway. It might be hard to get in there w/ anything.

Oldfart9999 · January 30, 2014, 11:38:39 AM

I had the same problem with the 1 in my 86 Tracker, they don't make repair kits for them, you'll have to replace the control box and it aint cheap. Sorry for the bad news.
Rodney

Ice Cold Peanuts · February 01, 2014, 12:13:15 AM

oh boy, I bit off too much. I pulled the throttle handle off and now nothing feels right. I shot some degreaser in there and then greased the button that allows me to go to neutral and then put everything back together. It's not right. My son warned me but bless his heart, he didn't say, "I told you so." He said don't panic. We'll look at it tomorrow. While I'm relieved, I'm concerned. I don't want to be that guy that shows up at the marine mechanic with a box of parts but I can see it happening. To top it off, I'm afraid to tell mama. Oh why did I mess with it?

Oh yeah. The button that allows me to go to neutral, it's still a problem.

Ron Fogelson · February 01, 2014, 01:04:51 AM

Not 100% sure but sounds like your shift cables are binding. How old is the boat? Could be time to have your cables checked/replaced,,,, same with the control box.

However sometimes the cables work free from the places on the boat there are secured to. If/when that happens from shifting in and out of gear, from forward to neutral to reverse and back again can case them to bind up. This than can cause the neutral button to become stiff until you wiggle the shift lever.

Check it out in the morning like you had planed but be extra mindful as to how you put it back in place so there isn't any sharp bends or pinch points.

Also the neutral button is just a plastic T but on the back side there is a spring to hold it out and on the bottom of the T it's split with a nub on each side. When they build them up the spring is put in place and the neutral button gets snapped in place and there just isn't an easy way I've found to remove it. I've broken way more than I've safely removed

However once you see how it works you can make a neutral button the same way and put it back in,,,, might have to dig around different stores to find something that will work. An older guy that used to work on boats around here on the side made a few for me out of plastic for a button top & split PVC as the shaft.

Good Luck
Fogy

Ice Cold Peanuts · February 01, 2014, 11:46:22 AM

Thanks for the tips.

bass1cpr · February 01, 2014, 12:46:06 PM

If it's a Mercury here's how you remove the button. Depress the button in the center of the shifter, lift the release to put it in forward and push all the way till it stops. Now you can take a small screwdriver and slide it along side of the button and gently pry it out. With a little pressure it will slide right out. Then if your going to remove the shift lever pull it back to neutral. The nut that holds the shift lever on is under the center button you have just removed.

Ice Cold Peanuts · February 01, 2014, 04:18:07 PM

Quote from: bass1cpr on February 01, 2014, 12:46:06 PM
If it's a Mercury here's how you remove the button. Depress the button in the center of the shifter, lift the release to put it in forward and push all the way till it stops. Now you can take a small screwdriver and slide it along side of the button and gently pry it out. With a little pressure it will slide right out. Then if your going to remove the shift lever pull it back to neutral. The nut that holds the shift lever on is under the center button you have just removed.

It IS a mercury and I'm having trouble pushing the button, used to go into neutral, in. You're saying, if I can get that button to go in, to push the throttle all the way forward and use a screw driver to gently pry the "throttle only shaft" out?

bass1cpr · February 01, 2014, 04:37:34 PM

The button in the center or pivot point of the shift lever is what I gave directions to remove it allows you to go into high speed throttle only.
The next step would be pull back to neutral then remove the nut that holds the shift lever on. There will be two wires for the trim that have enough slack for you to take the back side of the shift lever apart so you can check the neutral lock lever you are talking about.

Ice Cold Peanuts · February 01, 2014, 04:50:04 PM

Ah. I've got the throttle only button off and the shift lever off. I have 4 trim/tilt wires with the blue not connecting to anything. It looks like those wires sit onto or next to the gears on the spindle. The reason for me venturing to this point is because that throttle only button doesn't always want go in. My SELOC shows a throttle only shaft behind the button. I can see and touch it and it still doesn't depress even after a cleaning agent and some lubrication.

bass1cpr · February 01, 2014, 05:15:32 PM

Do you have a round or square shift lever arm.

Ice Cold Peanuts · February 01, 2014, 05:20:19 PM

Quote from: bass1cpr on February 01, 2014, 05:15:32 PM
Do you have a round or square shift lever arm.

square

bass1cpr · February 01, 2014, 09:30:00 PM

Ok just wanted to make sure your talking about the square arm model. I'm going to have to do some checking so I don't head you the wrong way. What position was the shift lever in when you got the button out?

Ice Cold Peanuts · February 01, 2014, 10:27:47 PM

Straight up. I just finished putting it all back together. It feels right this time though. I'm concerned about the T/T wires and I'm not sure about the friction and detent adjustments but I'll need to wait until ice out before I can check everything. I gave the boat a major overhaul this winter so I'll have several things to work out. That's fine as I probably wouldn't have caught much that early. Having said that, thanks SO much for the interest you've shown and the advice you gave. Much appreciated.