Shifter Cable Broke?

[DayCruiser]

We put the boat in the water for the first time yesterday and it will stay in. When docking I went to put it in reverse and something gave and there was no reverse. I looked at the reverse shifter cable and at the end it is exposed and not moving the reverse lever gear. Looks to me like one of the wires is broken in it because a wire is just hanging from the metal end. Easy fix? Still driveable without reverse? We only use reverse for docking. Mechanic said he would try to fit us in for repair. Can I do it if he can't?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Easy fix? Still driveable without reverse? We only use reverse for docking

Ayuh,....

I guess that would depend on What you have for a Drive.....

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Thanks for the quick response Bondo. Ya tried the forward shift and it moved the gear lever and the gas. I guess the only way to really know for sure is to test it out. The reverse only moves the gas and not the gear
1990 mercruiser, celebrity 3.0

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Ayuh,.....

You have an Alpha 1 drive,......
And,....
Yes,.... You Need to Replace the Cable.......

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Ok thanks. I have a general manuel for repair and will see if it something I can handle. The mechanic may be able to fit me in. Always expect the unexpected in boating..what a bummer. Thought I had everything ready to go

 

[MikDee]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Mercruiser shift cable, a common problem after some years of use. To replace it, you have to take the drive off, so the boat has to come out of the water. If you're at all handy or mechanically inclined, you can fix it yourself. Good Luck, Mike

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Mercruiser shift cable, a common problem after some years of use. To replace it, you have to take the drive off, so the boat has to come out of the water. If you're at all handy or mechanically inclined, you can fix it yourself. Good Luck, Mike

Why do you have to take the drive off? Looks to me that it just unhooks from the tops of the motor and then from the shifter? What is connected to the drive?

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

That's the upper shift cable. The lower is connected on the motor near where the upper is, and descends down into the transom.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

That's the upper shift cable. The lower is connected on the motor near where the upper is, and descends down into the transom.

So if you replace the upper then you have to replace the lower too?

I went down and double checked and it is the upper shift cable. The lower one looks fine I believe. I hope lol

 

[MikDee]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

No, not necessarily, but I figured it was the lower cable, not the control box cable, if so (that's another headache in itself) but also doable.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Shifter Cable Broke?

Well I have a good mechanic coming over soon --I hope. A busy time of year.... Late spring an drought kept me from putting it in the water sooner. Now we are down to the Memorial day weekend rush. I am going to put some extra bumpers on the dock and just not use reverse until he arrives. Maybe paddle in lol
I just have to go boatin...