Abstract: The invention provides a marine propulsion device having a lower unit including a power transmission mechanism comprising a bevel gear having a first clutch element, a propeller shaft having a second clutch element and mounted for rotational movement and for axial movement between a neutral position and an engaged position with the propeller shaft clutch element in driven engagement with the first clutch element, a collar mounted on the propeller shaft for common movement therewith and for axial movement relative to the propeller shaft and into a frictional driving engagement with the bevel gear to effect rotation of the propeller shaft at a rate less than the rotational rate of the bevel gear, and a spring biasing the propeller shaft to the neutral position, the spring being overcome to afford movement of the propeller shaft to the drive position in response to propeller shaft rotation.

Abstract: Ignition pulses derived from an engine ignition coil primary are fed to the input of an ignition interruption circuit that employs an integrated circuit timer. The state of the output terminal of the timer is governed by an RC time constant circuit and by trigger signals supplied by a trigger circuit in response to occurrence of each ignition pulse. The timer output is coupled to the gate of an SCR which when it receives gate current as a result of the timer output being in a high state becomes conductive and bypasses ignition pulses to ground to thereby lower engine rpm to a preset minimum in which case gate current is removed and at least enough ignition pulses are allowed to be unbypassed for keeping the engine running above stalling speed. The timer, in effect, compares the interval between pulses with its time constant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device and apparatus and methods for assisting transmission shifting thereof. The marine propulsion device includes an internal combustion engine and a reversing transmission having a pair of bevel gears and a clutch dog movable between a neutral position out of engagement with the bevel gears and forward and reverse drive positions in full engagement with one of the bevel gears. The marine propulsion device also includes a shift assistance arrangement included in a shift mechanism for axially moving the clutch dog between the neutral and drive positions, and which includes a load sensing lost motion shift lever arrangement having a first switch which is actuated when the resistance to axially moving the clutch dog into a drive position exceeds an upper limit.