Abstract: A marine propulsion unit has a driveshaft and propulsion shaft driven by the driveshaft and driving a propeller. The driveshaft carries a pinion. The propulsion shaft carries forward and reverse gears. The pinion meshes with the forward and reverse gears. The pinion drives the forward and reverse gears in opposite directions relative to each other. A sleeve is rotatable with the propulsion shaft. The sleeve is slidably disposed between the forward and reverse gears on the propulsion shaft. The forward and reverse gears have teeth on a surface thereof that opposes the sleeve. The sleeve has recesses on each surface thereof that opposes the forward or reverse gear. Each tooth can enter a corresponding recess. The tooth has a length substantially the same as a length of the recess in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: A marine propulsion unit has a driveshaft and propulsion shaft driven by the driveshaft and driving a propeller. The driveshaft carries a pinion. The propulsion shaft carries forward and reverse gears. The pinion meshes with the forward and reverse gears. The pinion drives the forward and reverse gears in opposite directions relative to each other. A sleeve is rotatable with the propulsion shaft. The sleeve is slidably disposed between the forward and reverse gears on the propulsion shaft. The forward and reverse gears have teeth on a surface thereof that opposes the sleeve. The sleeve has recesses on each surface thereof that opposes the forward or reverse gear. Each tooth can enter a corresponding recess. The tooth has a length substantially the same as a length of the recess in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes the direct fuel injection system. The outboard motor also includes an ECU that monitors various engine operating conditions and controls various engine operating parameters that are at least partially dependent on the positioning of the transmission. In instances in which the transmission is positioned in a neutral location, the load is decreased and therefore the ECU outputs one set of parameters. In similar low-speed operations, when the transmission is placed in a drive arrangement, the ECU outputs a second set of parameters due to the increased load. Several control routines are disclosed which facilitate low-speed operation, over-rev limiting, and engine warm-up.

Abstract: A shift and throttle control mechanism allows for control of the shift and throttle features of an outboard motor through two separate operators. For instance, one operator can be remotely positioned in the hull of an associated watercraft, while the other operator can be formed on a steering handle of the outboard motor. The shift and throttle control mechanism is also configured to fit within a cowling of the outboard motor, together with a four-cycle engine, without significantly increasing the size of the cowling. In one mode, the shift and throttle control mechanism includes a shift shaft arranged toward the front side of the engine. One of the operators is directly connected to shift shaft by a linkage rod. The other operator is connected by a shift control cable to a shift lever that is located on the side of the engine. This location of the shift lever allows the end of the shift control cable to be fixed within the cowling without increasing the cowling's size.

Abstract: An outboard motor outer cover arrangement The outboard motor is comprised primarily of a powerhead and a drive shaft housing and lower unit which depends from the powerhead. The powerhead is comprised of an internal combustion engine and a surrounding protective cowling. The protective cowling comprises a lower tray portion and a detachable main cowling portion that is detachably connected to the tray portion. An exhaust guide is provided at the upper end of the drive shaft housing and lower unit and the engine is supported on this guide plate as is the tray. A cover is detachably connected to the underside of the exhaust guide and is positioned in partially surrounding relationship to the upper portion of the drive shaft housing and lower unit so as to provide a neat appearance.