A forward/backward switching mechanism having an intermediate gear supported by an intermediate shaft perpendicular to a drive shaft is interposed between first and second input shafts. A clutch body is a dog clutch having upper and lower locking dogs. As the dog clutch moves along an axial direction of the second input shaft and is engaged with upper or lower gears, rotation of the first input shaft is forwardly or reversely transmitted to the second input shaft.

In one embodiment, an outboard marine engine comprises the internal combustion engine and a propulsor that is driven into rotation by the internal combustion engine so as to effect a thrust. The outboard marine engine further includes a transmission that shifts amongst a fourth gear wherein the thrust is forward thrust, a reverse gear wherein the thrust is a reverse thrust, and a neutral gear wherein the thrust is a zero thrust. The outboard marine engine further includes a shift rod that is rotatable about its own axis, wherein rotation of the shift rod about its own axis shifts the transmission amongst the forward gear, the reverse gear, and the neutral gear. An actuator operably connects to the internal combustion engine and causes rotation of a gear shaft. At least one gearset connects the gear shaft to the shift rod such that rotation of the gear shaft about its own axis rotates the shift rod about its own axis.

In one embodiment, an outboard marine engine comprises the internal combustion engine and a propulsor that is driven into rotation by the internal combustion engine so as to effect a thrust. The outboard marine engine further includes a transmission that shifts amongst a fourth gear wherein the thrust is forward thrust, a reverse gear wherein the thrust is a reverse thrust, and a neutral gear wherein the thrust is a zero thrust. The outboard marine engine further includes a shift rod that is rotatable about its own axis, wherein rotation of the shift rod about its own axis shifts the transmission amongst the forward gear, the reverse gear, and the neutral gear. An actuator operably connects to the internal combustion engine and causes rotation of a gear shaft. At least one gearset connects the gear shaft to the shift rod such that rotation of the gear shaft about its own axis rotates the shift rod about its own axis.

An outboard motor includes a drive shaft, a coupling to connect a first shaft and a second shaft of the drive shaft together, and a transmission including a dog clutch to transmit a rotation of the drive shaft to a propeller shaft. The coupling includes a first portion attached to the first shaft, a second portion attached to the second shaft, and a damper. The first portion includes first claws arranged along a rotation direction of the drive shaft. The second portion includes second claws between adjacent ones of the first claws in the rotation direction. The damper includes an elastic portion interposed between adjacent ones of the first claws and the second claws in the rotation direction.

Combination of marine vessel and outboard motor, wherein at least one outboard motor is attached in a predetermined position to the transom of the marine vessel, the motor being mounted so as to translate according to a path with at least one motion component having an orientation parallel to the direction of the transverse axis of the hull and/or parallel to the transom of said hull and alternatively towards one or the other side of the hull.

Combination of marine vessel and outboard motor, wherein at least one outboard motor is attached in a predetermined position to the transom of the marine vessel, the motor being mounted so as to translate according to a path with at least one motion component having an orientation parallel to the direction of the transverse axis of the hull and/or parallel to the transom of said hull and alternatively towards one or the other side of the hull.

A band brake actuator is for actuating a band brake on a planetary gearset. The band brake actuator comprises a actuator shaft; an output finger; and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly connects the actuator shaft to the output finger such that rotation of the actuator shaft in a first rotation direction causes the output finger to engage the band brake on the planetary gearset, and such that rotation of the actuator shaft in an opposite, second rotation direction causes the output finger to disengage the band brake from the planetary gearset. Engagement of the band brake and the planetary gearset shifts the planetary gearset into one of a forward and a reverse gear and wherein disengagement of the band brake and the planetary gearset shifts the planetary gearset into a neutral gear.

An outboard motor for attachment to a hull of a marine vessel includes a lower case including a propeller shaft to rotate a propeller, and an upper case including a drive shaft to transmit a power to the propeller shaft. The lower case is selected from among different types of lower cases to be attached to the upper case, and the upper case and the lower case are connected by an intermediate structure.

An outboard motor includes an engine, a propeller shaft that rotates together with a propeller and extends in a forward-rearward direction, and a lower case that houses the propeller shaft. The lower case includes a front case and a rear case separate from the front case and positioned rearward of the front case, and the front case and the rear case are assembled to each other.

A transmission for an outboard motor, the transmission having an input shaft with an input gear non-rotatably fixed thereto and rotatable by an engine. A countershaft has a countershaft driven gear and a reverse driving gear non-rotatably fixed thereto, where the countershaft driven gear meshes with the input gear. An output shaft has first and second driven gears non-rotatably fixed thereto. First and second driving gears mesh with the first and second driven gears, a reverse idler gear meshes with the reverse driving gear, and a reverse driven gear meshes with the reverse idler gear. First and second clutches selectively rotate the first and second driving gears with the countershaft in first and second modes at first and second speeds in forward rotation, respectively, and a reverse clutch selectively rotates the output shaft with the reverse driven gear in a reverse mode with reverse rotation.