1987 Looper v4 140 RPM only 4000

[THEFERMANATOR]

It is highly unlikely you have a V8 lower unit. They are massive to handle the torque that the V8 has. You can't compare the old cross-flow rod to the looper rod, COMPLETELY different shift mehanisms. Your saying reverse works tells me that the shift rod is close. Try the method pushing down on the rod and threading it out until you don't feel the shift rod bottoming out. Then mount it back up. I would say 2-3 turns out will put you close to where you need to be at. If the rod is threaded all the way in, it CANNOT go into forward. Trust me on this one. If you thread it all the way in, only neutral and reverse will engage.

Unthread the shift rod all the way, then thread it back in 3 turns. Now push the rod down until it goes into forward(you may have to spin the propshaft to make sure it goes in). Now thread the rod inward until you feel it begin to bottom out. As soon as you feel it touch the bottom while threading in, rotate it out until the bend faces forward and add 1 more turn out. Try it like that and see if it works. You cannot use the old rod as a reference of how the newq one should be.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I just went out and measured a shift rod that I have in the shop. It is off of an 86 140 looper, but is for a 25" shaft. So figuring you have a 20" leg, the shift rod for yours should measure roughly 30 7/8" - 30 15/16" from the very bottom to the very top. Use a yard stick or something fairly accurate for all of these measurements. But if you have the rod threaded in all the way, then you are stuck in neutral, and the rod will stick up to high to hook up with the selector in forward.

[Skools Out]

not 30" Ferm the measurment i gave above is straight out of the OMC Shop Manual. your 25" isn't 30" the shift rod in a 25" motor is only 26 15/16 "in length installed.

[Skools Out]

i'll measure mine tomorrow i have several rods on the shelf.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by Skools Out

not 30" Ferm the measurment i gave above is straight out of the OMC Shop Manual. your 25" isn't 30" the shift rod in a 25" motor is only 26 15/16 "in length installed.

I'm refferring to total rod length, not length installed. I put this one out there since he thinks his is to long so he could see if it was close. I know the 21 15/16" is the spec for a 20", I was just giving him the actual rod measurement so he could see if his was actually right. I'm willing to bet it is locked in neutral because he has the rod screwed in to far. I know thinking about it makes no sense, but with the geometry effect it happens.

[Skools Out]

yeah if he screwed it in too far it will lock it into neutral. crazy but you canturn them with it installed. just turn shifter up and the rod down then rotate with needle nose pliers. easy to adjust when it's only in need of one turn. or the shift cable could need adjustings too. when you change lower units it will need slight twiking.

[nymack66]

I broke the rod , I now have to buy a new one , One problem after another

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by nymack66

I broke the rod , I now have to buy a new one , One problem after another

How did that happen? They are pretty hefty pieces of stainless to break.

[nymack66]

From what I can see it was welded and painted over a long time ago, I measure the broken rod it is exactly 30 " long on the workbench , I will order a new one tomorrow

[THEFERMANATOR]

The part number is 333005 and should cost you $63.34 for a new one. I only have 25" model ones in the shop right now. Maybe a member here has a 20".