4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

[cbavier]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Well maybe Im at the low end, and bumping it up closer to 700 will fix the problem. I will give it a try.

I had a Mechanic tell me the Motor, it should almost or actually momentarily stall when you shift it. That's why the book says to shift it fast. That doesn't mean to jam the throttle full forward. Just move it quickly from Neutral to Fwd Gear or reverse.

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

One thing though, if it is the idle speed being a bit too slow and not the lower shift cable, why would it die when going from gear to neutral?

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Read this thread, it will explain it.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158082

 

[cbavier]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Read this thread, it will explain it.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158082

Sounds complicated Don. I did print it off for future reference however. thanks

 

[cbavier]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

One thing though, if it is the idle speed being a bit too slow and not the lower shift cable, why would it die when going from gear to neutral?

Phish you switched problems. In your first post you said going from Neutral to gear. Now your saying from Gear to neutral. Is it both? Don and others will want to know.

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Don, thanks for the link. That explained the shift cable portion, but not my question as to IF it is the idle being too slow and not the shift cable dragging, why it dies when going from gear to neurtral.

I am going to follow the procedures outlined in the link, maybe its just a matter of adjustment. Then I will put the boat on the water, and check the idle. If problem still exists, I will have to take it in to have the lower shift cable replaced.

 

[cbavier]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Keep us posted Phissh 55.

I'm learning too.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

One thing to remember, all that cable movement and the interrupt switch being activated happens when the boat is in the water. It should NEVER be activated when on muffs. If it is, that means something is too stiff (usually the cable) Even in the water, going into gear should not activate the switch, if it does the cable or linkage is too stiff and needs looked into.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

I am going to follow the procedures outlined in the link, maybe its just a matter of adjustment.

Go ahead and play with it if you want, but that is not your problem. Your engine dies going into gear and out, both directions. That tells me you have cable problems or linkage problems.

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

One thing to remember, all that cable movement and the interrupt switch being activated happens when the boat is in the water. It should NEVER be activated when on muffs. If it is, that means something is too stiff (usually the cable) Even in the water, going into gear should not activate the switch, if it does the cable or linkage is too stiff and needs looked into.

Gotch ya, so I can safely put it on the muffs, shift into and out of gear, and it should not activate the switch. And if it does, then that leaves no doubt about it being a bad shift cable. This is something I can do here at the house (I know I can't do the idle adjustment out of the water). I will do that this afternoon, and get back to you here.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

I had a Mechanic tell me the Motor, it should almost or actually momentarily stall when you shift it. That's why the book says to shift it fast. That doesn't mean to jam the throttle full forward. Just move it quickly from Neutral to Fwd Gear or reverse.

Ayuh,..... That's Totally False.....

It doesn' stumble,.. At All,.. going Into gear,....
And only the slightest Stumble when coming Out of gear......

 

[JustJason]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Maybe this will help. The clutch is designed in way that the teeth are undercut so that they will easily grab... but not easily release.
Try putting your hands together, palm to palm, put your middle finger of each hand into the opposite palm. Now bend your fingers so they are at a right angle to eachother. Now try and pull your hands apart. You can't because your fingertips are grabbing the opposite palm. The clutch works the same way.
In the lower unit, there is always power applied to the gears, and the power is transferred to the clutch, and to the propshaft. In order to unload, or get the clutch to release you need to momentarily remove the power applied to the gears.
Whenever these things give you trouble, they will usually go into gear just fine, it's the coming out of gear that gives you trouble.
Another issue is how are you shifting this thing? Are you slowly pushing the lever into gear... or are you shifting in 1 quick firm motion?

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Phish you switched problems. In your first post you said going from Neutral to gear. Now your saying from Gear to neutral. Is it both? Don and others will want to know.

Cbavier, I didn't switch problems. My first post says it dies both ways, from neutral into gear, also dies from gear into neutral. My question related to the idle being too slow has to do with why it would die going from gear into neutral if the only problem is the idle, ( I can understand if the only problem is the idle, why it would die going from neutral into gear, as that is putting a load on the engine).

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

captjason, I tried several times shifting both from neutral into gear, and from gear into neutral using one smooth steady motion, and that is when it dies. If I shift really, really slow, it will go into and out of gear and not die.

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

I hooked up the muffs to it after adjusting the linkage. Still dies, more so from R to N, and not so often from F to N, or from N to either gear. I am convinced it is the Lower unit shift cable. I will get it replaced. Thanks guys. Ill let you know how it works out.

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Question before I do go and spend any more money on it, can I run without the kill switch? The reason I ask, is because I just had the boat in the shop, and they had the lower unit off to do other work (skeg repair, impeller, ect).
So could I make it through the season with out the switch, and have the cable replaced when I winterize it next winter?

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Question before I do go and spend any more money on it, can I run without the kill switch?

Nope, you will probably not be able to get it out of gear and/or damage the drive or cable even more.

So could I make it through the season with out the switch, and have the cable replaced when I winterize it next winter?

No

Probably what happened is it worked fine then, but after setting all winter and more corrosion happens, it get worse, now the problem.
Fix it now or pay a LOT more later, your choice.

 

[Phish555]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Ok, spent a little now ( If you call 375.00 a little), and for my money I got a new lower shift cable, and my engine timed, and......a bent skeg, and a ding in my prop. Please note, both skeg and prop are brand new. I dropped off my boat at 8am, and picked it up at 4pm. I got it back to the storage lot, and wanted to be sure they drained the water out of the moter, and low and behold they didn't. So I drained it, and checked out the work. Thats when I noticed the bent skeg and ding in my prop. I just had the skeg repaired at the same shop about 2 weeks ago, and put on my brand new prop about 10 days ago. Needless to say, Im not too happy. I called the shop and got answering machine, and left a brief message as to my un-happyness. I will expect a phone call first thing in the morning as I am sure they want to make this right. I will not give out the name of the shop for that reason. If they don't make it right, Ill let you all know who it was.

 

[JustJason]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

if they do make it right you should say who they are...

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3L mercruiser dies between gears

Stuff happens,
Deal with them personally, not hear on the forums.