Honda BF50 (5HP), BF5A Outboard Motors Shop Manual 2014, Page 85Get this manual
BF50-BFBA
3POWER TRAIN
Crankshaft rotation is transmitted to the bevel gear and propeller shaft through the vertical shaft and pinion shaft
CRAN KSHAFT SHIFT LEVER
SHIFT ROD
+01-7 VERTICAL SHAFT
PINION SHAFT PROPELLER SHAFT BEVEL GEAR
aFORWARD
When the shift lever is moved to the "FORWARD" position, the shift rod is raised (direction A)allowing the shifter clutch to move by spring pressure toward the forward bevel gear (direction B)The shifter clutch engages the forward bevel gear, locking it to the propeller shaftPinion shaft rotation, transmitted through the forward bevel gear, then rotates the propeller shaft in direction CSHIFT SHAFT
bNEUTRAL
When the shift lever is moved to the "NEUTRAL" position, the shift rod is moved to the middle of its range of travel, forcing the shifter clutch out of engagement with either bevel gearPinion shaft rotation then spins the bevel gears freely, without transmitting any rotation to the propeller shaft