A system for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel by a marine drive is provided, the marine drive having a marine engine that effectuates rotation of propulsor through a shift system that shifts amongst at least a forward gear position, a reverse gear position, and a neutral position. The system includes a remote control having a lever movable to provide a throttle demand input for controlling the marine engine and a shift demand input for controlling the shift system. A shift demand sensor measures a shift demand lever position to provide the shift demand input, and a throttle demand sensor measures a throttle demand lever positions to provide the throttle demand input. A control module is configured to detect shift demand sensor failure based on the shift demand lever position values and assign a predetermined throttle demand lever position as shift command position. When the throttle demand lever position reaches the shift command position, a shift command is generated instructing a change in gear position of the shift system.

A system for controlling propulsion of a marine vessel by a marine drive is provided, the marine drive having a marine engine that effectuates rotation of propulsor through a shift system that shifts amongst at least a forward gear position, a reverse gear position, and a neutral position. The system includes a remote control having a lever movable to provide a throttle demand input for controlling the marine engine and a shift demand input for controlling the shift system. A shift demand sensor measures a shift demand lever position to provide the shift demand input, and a throttle demand sensor measures a throttle demand lever positions to provide the throttle demand input. A control module is configured to detect shift demand sensor failure based on the shift demand lever position values and assign a predetermined throttle demand lever position as shift command position. When the throttle demand lever position reaches the shift command position, a shift command is generated instructing a change in gear position of the shift system.

An outboard motor includes an engine having an output portion. A lower gear mechanism drives a propeller disposed below the engine. A transmission includes an input shaft that transmits power from the output portion to the transmission. An output shaft transmits power from the transmission to the lower gear mechanism. A reverse idler shaft is parallel to an intermediate shaft. A forward clutch is disposed on one of the input and intermediate shafts and connects and disconnects power from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. A reverse clutch is disposed on the intermediate shaft and connects and disconnects power transmission from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. Power of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft via the forward clutch and the intermediate shaft and is transmitted to the output shaft via the reverse idler shaft, the reverse clutch, and the intermediate shaft.

An outboard motor includes an engine having an output portion. A lower gear mechanism drives a propeller disposed below the engine. A transmission includes an input shaft that transmits power from the output portion to the transmission. An output shaft transmits power from the transmission to the lower gear mechanism. A reverse idler shaft is parallel to an intermediate shaft. A forward clutch is disposed on one of the input and intermediate shafts and connects and disconnects power from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. A reverse clutch is disposed on the intermediate shaft and connects and disconnects power transmission from the input shaft to the intermediate shaft. Power of the input shaft is transmitted to the output shaft via the forward clutch and the intermediate shaft and is transmitted to the output shaft via the reverse idler shaft, the reverse clutch, and the intermediate shaft.

Disclosed is an control device of an outboard motor, including: a computation unit configured to set, as a starting point, a timing before a gearshift mechanism is shifted from forward to neutral after an accelerator opening level is fully closed in a case where an operator's manipulation is performed from forward to neutral, and compute a time-series change of an engine rotation speed as a simulated ship speed on the basis of the engine rotation speed detected by an engine rotation speed detector at the starting point; and a control unit configured to control an actuator such that, in a case where the operator's manipulation is performed from forward to reverse through neutral, the gearshift mechanism is maintained in the neutral position until the simulated ship speed estimated by the computation unit becomes a predetermined threshold value or lower, and is then shifted to reverse.

Disclosed is an control device of an outboard motor, including: a computation unit configured to set, as a starting point, a timing before a gearshift mechanism is shifted from forward to neutral after an accelerator opening level is fully closed in a case where an operator's manipulation is performed from forward to neutral, and compute a time-series change of an engine rotation speed as a simulated ship speed on the basis of the engine rotation speed detected by an engine rotation speed detector at the starting point; and a control unit configured to control an actuator such that, in a case where the operator's manipulation is performed from forward to reverse through neutral, the gearshift mechanism is maintained in the neutral position until the simulated ship speed estimated by the computation unit becomes a predetermined threshold value or lower, and is then shifted to reverse.

Transmission systems and methods are for a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine that drives a propulsor. An input shaft is driven into rotation at a non-zero first rotational speed by the internal combustion engine. An output shaft drives the propulsor into rotation at a non-zero second rotational speed. A planetary gearset transfers power from the input shaft to the output shaft. A band brake is on the planetary gearset. Actuation of the band brake effects a gear change in the planetary gearset. A band brake actuator actuates the band brake to effect the gear change. A controller controls the band brake actuator. Based upon one or more operational characteristics of the marine propulsion device the controller is programmed to control the band brake actuator so that the second rotational speed is less than the first rotational speed.

Transmission systems and methods are for a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine that drives a propulsor. An input shaft is driven into rotation at a non-zero first rotational speed by the internal combustion engine. An output shaft drives the propulsor into rotation at a non-zero second rotational speed. A planetary gearset transfers power from the input shaft to the output shaft. A band brake is on the planetary gearset. Actuation of the band brake effects a gear change in the planetary gearset. A band brake actuator actuates the band brake to effect the gear change. A controller controls the band brake actuator. Based upon one or more operational characteristics of the marine propulsion device the controller is programmed to control the band brake actuator so that the second rotational speed is less than the first rotational speed.

An outboard motor has a mounting assembly, a powerhead, a transmission, and a shift shaft that extends from the powerhead to the transmission via a conduit in the mounting assembly. The shift shaft is positionable into a forward position in which the transmission is engaged in forward gear, reverse position in which the transmission is engaged in reverse gear, and a neutral position in which the transmission is in neutral gear. In the forward position, an upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to a forward side of the conduit than the aftward side of the conduit. In the reverse position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to an aftward side of the conduit than the forward side of the conduit. In the neutral position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned between the forward and reverse positions.

An outboard motor has a mounting assembly, a powerhead, a transmission, and a shift shaft that extends from the powerhead to the transmission via a conduit in the mounting assembly. The shift shaft is positionable into a forward position in which the transmission is engaged in forward gear, reverse position in which the transmission is engaged in reverse gear, and a neutral position in which the transmission is in neutral gear. In the forward position, an upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to a forward side of the conduit than the aftward side of the conduit. In the reverse position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned closer to an aftward side of the conduit than the forward side of the conduit. In the neutral position, the upper end of the shift shaft is positioned between the forward and reverse positions.