1987 mercruiser no reverse

[coyotehead]

I just purchased a 1987 wellcraft with a mercruiser alpha one with a 305 engine.
I had to build a new motor before I could try it out.It goes in to forward fine but nothing in reverse.Doesn't even try to go in reverse.Seller said lower was recently redone. Any help would be great...

 

[incrediblened]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Sounds like a lower shift cable. Kit costs about $70. It's a job.

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Well,let me ask you this...I can remove the cable from the shift plate by motor and still can't shift in to reverse...Does that still sound like lower cable?

Thanks

 

[incrediblened]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Are you sure that you're pulling the cable all the way into reverse? It may be stuck where you can't pull it all the way by hand. This is what happens when your lower shift cable goes bad, and causes shift problems where it won't go directly in/out of gear.

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

No,Im not sure I guess...I have pulled pretty hard though...I will check that out.

Thanks

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Yea,I tried pulling it real hard by removing the end I put pliers on it and pulled good....It seems to be moving the coupler in it full range...Im lost!!!

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Did the seller say it shifted after the rebuild? I'm wondering if the shift shaft in the lower gear case got turned back a bit from forward and the upper shift arm is aligned with the wrong splines now. So instead of shifting into reverse it only turns the shift shaft back to the neutral position. They have to be in full forward when the gear case or outdrive is removed. Unless the gear case was in forward when it was put back on it won't be aligned properly.

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Wow,that was it and also the fact that the coupler is wore out at the top...It has a lot of back and forth play there...Would that be a slight problem?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

You pull the cable with your fingers ,not pliers. Do you have the manual for the drive. Is the drive on or off the boat now?Is this a new cable?
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A4R3.PDF

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

It has a lot of back and forth play there...Would that be a slight problem?

Ayuh,... It don't move awhole lot Normally,.. So,.. Any Play is a Potential Problem...

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Some one told me to pull with pliers to see if it was stuck I don't know...I do not have the manual man...The drive is on the boat now...I removed the lower to make sure I had reverse and it does...Works great!!!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Click on my link above, that is the full manual

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

Where the coupler meets the upper shift arm there is slack and the splines seem to have back and fourth play as well...Does anyone have an idea of cost for those items?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

where are we talking

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

this pic

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

A and B seem to have lots of slack in the splines and where they meet

 

[coyotehead]

Re: 1987 mercruiser no reverse

I found that the coupler and the shaft going in to the upper were bad so I replace them but while having it apart I found that the cable was not installed correct....Put it all back together and it shifts great.

Thanks for every ones help