2008 21 won't shift into reverse

[mlull]

Tried shifting into reverse and nothing. Disconnected cable shift linkage and tried manually shifting into reverse AND forward and nothing, either direction. Gear box lever appears intact and has not slipped. Linkage appears to be adjusted for proper throws. When shifting into forward it has become less crisp on the shift. Am currently on the Erie Canal so have limited means for diagnostics. Have the Yanmar engine and gearbox. Has anyone else had this happen and what did you find?

 

[SGIDAVE]

Tried shifting into reverse and nothing. Disconnected cable shift linkage and tried manually shifting into reverse AND forward and nothing, either direction. Gear box lever appears intact and has not slipped. Linkage appears to be adjusted for proper throws. When shifting into forward it has become less crisp on the shift. Am currently on the Erie Canal so have limited means for diagnostics. Have the Yanmar engine and gearbox. Has anyone else had this happen and what did you find?

Hello miull,

Are you saying that when you moved the lever on the gearbox NOTHING happened...either FWD or REV? YIKES!! If I'm understanding you, this sounds bad. Like a problem with the gear (transmission) itself rather than a shifter cable needing adjustment.

Gear oil level is OK? Looks OK - no obvious particles?

Keep us posted. Good luck!

/dave

 

[knotflying]

Here is a thought. A friend of ours had the same issue on their R25 classic. There is a plate similar to a clutch plate ( I can't recall the exact name of the part) that was worn. They could not go in reverse or forward. The entire repair was around $1,500. After the repair they were getting some vibration and they decided to pull the boat out. They discovered that there was a piece of crab pot line wrapped in the prop. The mechanic suspected that the failure and the line entanglement were somehow connected. The good part was that the insurance company covered the repair since it appeared to be caused by the line. I'm not saying that you may have something caught in the prop, but has anything happened in the past? One never knows what may be going on below the water line.

 

[mlull]

Thanks for the input. After a lot of head scratching decided that the prop was slipping. Pulled the boat out, pulled the prop and found the prop shaft key had sheared. Thrust pushed the prop onto the taper and I could go forward but the pull of the prop in reverse pulled the prop off the taper and it just slipped. New key and I've got reverse again. I was getting tired of using other peoples' boats and docks to get me stopped! Thanks again!

 

[Strickland]

Same happened to our R21
It was the "Woodruff Key" that came loose on the shaft or prop so slid preventing prop to reverse.
It then sheared off completely, Key was replace at minimum cost of removing prop installing key and reinstalling prop.
Hopefully that's all it is…

OOPS just read your post…happy that's all it was!