Gear Shifting - Mercury 40 4-Stroke Manual

10. Check for a steady stream of water flowing out of the water pump indicator hole.
IMPORTANT: If no water is coming out of the water pump indicator hole, stop engine and check cooling
water intake for obstruction. No obstruction may indicate a water pump failure or blockage in the cooling
system. These conditions will cause the engine to overheat. Have the outboard checked by your dealer.
Operating the engine while overheated may cause serious engine damage.
WARMING UP ENGINE
Before beginning operation, allow the engine to warm up at idling speed for three minutes.

Gear Shifting

IMPORTANT: Observe the following:
• Never shift outboard into gear unless engine speed is at idle.
• Do not shift outboard into reverse when the engine is not running.
• Your outboard has three gear shift positions to provide operation: forward, neutral (out of gear),
and reverse.
• Remote control models - When shifting, always stop at the neutral position and allow the engine
speed to return to idle.
• Tiller handle models - Reduce the engine speed to idle before shifting.
OPERATION
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