Reply To: Johnson &Evinrude jumping out of gear 51/2 to 40 hp older motors

[Peter Krause]

chris-p wrote:

Something to note, 9 times out of 10, the clutch dog and gear lug damage is caused by the Owner.

Remember to always SNAP that shifter into gear in a quick fast movement. NEVER slowly easeeeee it into gear. That is what causes the damage.

My Father in Law is very timid with this, and thinks that shifting slowly is better for the motor. It makes me cringe when I hear his lugs smashing away against one another!

Dogs also work on an angle to “lock” and make better the engagement. The problem described above is certainly begun by grinding the dogs and rounding the teeth, such that the angle is no good anymore. If you “snap” it into gear, they will last MUCH longer, if slowly “ground into gear” it’ll never get any better.

1958 Evinrude Lark x 2
1961 Evinrude Lark III x 2
1962 Evinrude Starflite IV
1963 Evinrude Starflite V
1964 Evinrude Starflite VI
1965 Big Twin Electric
1966 Yachtwin folding
1967 Evinrude Starflite 100-S
1969 Evinrude Big Twin Electric