Mercruiser 260 - help

[bazeven2]

Mercruiser 260 w/ Alpha drive in a 1980 30' cruiser.

Motor runs great - WOT at 4200, cruises 25MPH at 3800RPM.

Problem I'm seeing is around the docks. Coming in slow to my slip, when shifting from forward to reverse (slowing down) it will often kill. Starts right back up and then kills again going from reverse to neutral and to forward. If I wait a few seconds in neutral it will often work just fine. Sometimes, shifting from forward or reverse into neutral it will just die. Again, starts up just fine again, and I'm off. Idle RPMs is around 800 - could that be too high causing it to kill?

I'm going out this weekend for the last time for the season and wanted to hear some hints from other Mercruiser owners. Fuel is fresh, Carb could be gummed up, but anything else I can look for?

Thanks!

Brad Z

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - help

Ayuh,.........

Your Lower Shift Cable is giving up the ghost.......

1980 is Pre-Alpha,...... Not Alpha......
And,.....
Your Idle should be 650/ 700rpms........

 

[bazeven2]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - help

Thanks for the quick reply. Will that cable cause it to kill going both ways - forward to neutral to reverse and reverse to neutral to forward? Is there any way to test this?? Since it starts right back up - is that why you're thinking it's not fuel related?

The original 260 is coupled to a non original Alpha II outdrive.

I'll do some more reading on the lower shift cable - but if anyone elase has anything to test this weekend - please let me know.

Thanks

bz

 

[180shabah]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - help

Want a quick test?

Just disconnect the shift interrupt switch. Start the engine, put it in gear, pull the handle back to neutral. If it doesn't stall, get a new cable.

[size=+4]WARNING!!!![/size]

With the switch disconnected the drive WILL NOT come out of gear.
Cycling the key OFF-ON will allow the gears to dissengage.​

​

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - help

Want a quick test?

Just disconnect the shift interrupt switch. Start the engine, put it in gear, pull the handle back to neutral. If it doesn't stall, get a new cable.

[size=+4]WARNING!!!![/size]

With the switch disconnected the drive WILL NOT come out of gear.
Cycling the key OFF-ON will allow the gears to dissengage.​

​

I've seen a tweekend interupt switch cause problems also... Not saying that it isn't the cable, but it's worth looking at.

 

[bazeven2]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - UPDATE

Re: Mercruiser 260 - UPDATE

Update:

I had the Mercruiser running and pushed the interupt switch and the motor dies. I've read it is supposed to stumble, but is it supposed to STOP completely? Every time I press the switch the motor dies.

I've also tried to shift "quicker" and "to the point" and the motor will stay running.

How do I test the cable? Disconnect from where and see if it moves freely?

Is this a cable adjustment or a new cable scenerio?

Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - UPDATE

Re: Mercruiser 260 - UPDATE

Mercruisers will die, OMC's will stumble with their ESA system and the black box.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 260 - UPDATE

Re: Mercruiser 260 - UPDATE

or a new cable scenerio?

Ayuh..........