Suzuki Standard Rotation(Right Turning Prop) vs. Counter Rotation(Left Turning Prop)

[FourHeyDay]

Hey Guys, first post here and excited to find this forum. I have a 2006 DF 225 which is fully listed as as DF225 22501F-680885 on the data plate located on the transom clamp bracket. From what I understand this DF225F is listed as a right hand rotating prop based from the "F" in the prefix and it translates to a "DF225T" unit compared to the "DF225Z" unit which is a left rotating prop. This isn't really the question.

Background:
I ran the engine for a fishing trip (saltwater) before leaving for about a month to Switzerland. Of course I rinsed the engine as always when putting my boat away for my travels. Upon return to the States, I was performing some standard engine maintenance and after working on the motor I hooked up the ear muffs to run the engine and found it wouldn't turn over; as in locked up! I went ahead and checked a few things and noticed that the prop wasn't turning easily in neutral. I knew that I had a leak in the prop shaft seal and that corrosion had locked up a bearing in the lower unit. I have since taken apart the lower unit and am in the process of rebuilding the lower unit.

The question:
The motor clamp bracket on the transom shows this engine as a right hand rotating engine but I assure you I have a left hand turning prop. It is a Suzuki 3X16X18.5L stainless steel prop. The fact that this lower end is left hand rotating is not in question. I am trying to understand how Suzuki makes an engine turn clockwise or counter clockwise. Firstly, I know that the shift yoke going into the horizontal slider which moves the dog clutch forward and backward is either positioned to the port side or starboard side of the engine depending on the rotation of the prop. What I really want to know is how Suzuki does the rest.
1. How is the CW vs CCW rotation achieved?
2. The P/N of the left and right rotating gears isnt the same but what is the physical difference?
3. Does the dog clutch always move to the rear gear to engage the forward driving of the prop regardless of the rotation?
4. If question 3 is a yes, then is the clutch set up different to reverse the throw of the shift driveshaft?

Basically I am asking for some understanding on the known fact that all the engines turn the same way but the lower unit changes somehow based off the shift shaft and shift yoke.

Thanks a bunch!
Trevor

[noelm007]

I don't fully understand what you are asking, but, all the engines turn the same way, it is only the gear case that reverses prop rotation, change the lower unit and you reverse rotation, nothing is different in the power head.

[FourHeyDay]

My question is honestly more about how Suzuki achieves this opposite rotation. What parts in the lower unit is different. From looking at the manual, I see the shift yoke is positioned either facing to the left side or right side of the engine depending on the rotation type. But what about the pinion gear, fwd gear, and reverse gear? Are they left rotating gears cut opposite cut to right rotating gears? I have seen only the inside of a counter rotating lower unit because that is the type I have (attached to a power unit that was once standard rotating-albeit I know that is irrellevant). I just want someone who has experience in the lower units to explain how Suzuki makes different rotating directions of lower units....such as what major parts are different(gears, dog clutch position, and shift yoke)

[FourHeyDay]

I have answered my own question but wanted to close this out. The lower unit in the newer Suzuki high HP engines does not apply to this since they've changed the way the unit is made and it is reversible. But for the rest, here are the main (not necessarily complete list) ways the lower unit is different in its left vs right rotation. First of all, there is a small casting in for the shift yoke to sit in (pictured). If you don't know, the shift yoke is attached to the shift driveshaft and moves the dog clutch from neutral, to forward, and reverse. I have attached a photo showing the detail of the casting. For my DF225, the lower unit is a counterclockwise rotating unit and the casting shows that the shift yoke faces the left side of the motor based off of the casting. A clockwise rotating unit will have a casting for the shift yoke to face the right hand side of the engine.

Additionally, the build up of the gear assembly is different since the way the shifting is opposite. You can look at different parts diagrams and see the difference ways it is built up. The newer reversible lower units have only one design of the gear package.

To answer my questions from my first post:

1. How is the CW vs CCW rotation achieved? (SHIFT YOKE DIRECTION AND GEARING ASSY BUILD UP)
2. The P/N of the left and right rotating gears isnt the same but what is the physical difference?(THE DIFFERENCE IS THE DESIGN OF THE GEAR, NOT THE TEETH BUT MORE THE DESIGN)
3. Does the dog clutch always move to the rear gear to engage the forward driving of the prop regardless of the rotation? (NO IT IS OPPOSITE ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANUAL)
4. If question 3 is a yes, then is the clutch set up different to reverse the throw of the shift driveshaft? (NO. ONLY THE SHIFT YOKE FACES A DIFFERENT WAY)

[billybaru13]

Thanks for the follow up, most never do this. Very informative.