Merc 15HP outboard hard shifting

[William P.N. Smith]

I've got a 15HP Mercury outboard on a WaterMouse that's hard to shift
into forward, neutral, or reverse. I've disconnected the shift cable
and the shift lever and cable moves smoothly, so it's something in the
engine.

I tried rinsing and oiling the parts of the shift linkage I could get
to under the powerhead, the shift shaft, and the hole it disappears
into in the lower, but it's still binding. It works OK, it's just
hard to shift.

This engine is used in salt water if that matters, but the zinc has
never completely disappeared. The other identical boat with the same
engine doesn't have this problem. The engines are just over a year
old, and therefore, of course, out of warranty. 8*{

Is this a sign of impending doom (lower oil change didn't reveal any
milky oil, which would have meant water), or is there something easy
that I'm missing?

Is removal, disassembly, cleaning, and inspection of the lower gearbox
something one can do in a reasonably-equipped home workshop, or does
it require special tools and/or skills (and should really be done by a
dealer)?

Thanks :== fn(reponse)

[Lfreefall]

Sorry to hear of your problem. My husband go balistic about our Merc (15hp).
The first time it stopped shifting it was in warrenty, the next two times it
was not. Each time the Mercury repair people blamed the problem on my husbands
inability to shift properly.LOL Mercury knows of this problem as they have
availble a part that can be added to permanently change the way you shift. WE
WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MURCURY!
LN

[D]

you either have a bushing going out or the shaft is twisted and about to snap
you will need to pull the powerhead off and look down in side. or simple step..
Take the lower unit off and check and see if it shifts easy down there if it
doesn't then you got a problem there if it does then its the shaft and
something is wrong under the powerhead.

In article <oc97mu0e1clno1ipp...@4ax.com>, wp...@compusmiths.com
says...

[rhl...@gmail.com]

I have the same problem. Removed lower unit and can move the shift rod to change gears. But it is very hard to move! Very hard.
Suspect binding in dog or carrier with shifter in lower unit.
What is the Mercury part you mentioned?
Any advice on disassembled of hub?
Do you need special tools.
Thanks
Bob