I have to do a gimbal bearing and bellows etc, I have a question regarding the shift cable. Merc A1 G1 3.0

1985 Century Mustang

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I'm replacing the gimbal bearing, bellows, hoses etc.on a Merc A1-G1 3.0. I'm taking off the bell housing to do this.l, as I deem it's better. Question, can I just disconnect the shift linkage and pull the shift cable out from the transom after removing the shift mechanism in the bell housing, so I can reuse the cable. The cable itself is in decent shape. Hope this makes sense.
 

alldodge

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I'm replacing the gimbal bearing, bellows, hoses etc.on a Merc A1-G1 3.0. I'm taking off the bell housing to do this.l, as I deem it's better. Question, can I just disconnect the shift linkage and pull the shift cable out from the transom after removing the shift mechanism in the bell housing, so I can reuse the cable. The cable itself is in decent shape. Hope this makes sense.
Yes and No
Yes, disconnect then loosen 2 screws on end of wire anchor then remove plastic guide
shift cable.jpg
 

alldodge

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Scratch that no need to remove

Detach, loosed shift cable bellows and pull it out some.

Might attach a string to end in case it's pulled somewhere hard to get at

edit: won't be able to replace shift bellows this way
 
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Scott06

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I'm replacing the gimbal bearing, bellows, hoses etc.on a Merc A1-G1 3.0. I'm taking off the bell housing to do this.l, as I deem it's better. Question, can I just disconnect the shift linkage and pull the shift cable out from the transom after removing the shift mechanism in the bell housing, so I can reuse the cable. The cable itself is in decent shape. Hope this makes sense.
you have to remove the cable to get the outer sheath off anyways. it gets removed out the bellhousing end. I usually tie a weedwacker wire to it to fish in the new outer sheath.

All this is outlined in the manual
 

Scott06

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This works but assumes your replacing the lower cable so you have one to cut
View attachment 410254
I didn’t have to cut my cable , just took the end off the shift plate end pulled inner completely out the bellhousing with weed walker line attached. Then I could pull the outer casing off with the bellhousing. Was doing bellows at the time so bellhousing Was coming off.
yes you could use fishing line but I used string the first time and it didn’t hold up very well, hence the weedwacker wire.

the OP has a 3.0 so stringing the new cable in place is easier than routing it on a V engine around the wye pipe
 

alldodge

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I didn’t have to cut my cable , just took the end off the shift plate end pulled inner completely out the bellhousing with weed walker line attached. Then I could pull the outer casing off with the bellhousing. Was doing bellows at the time so bellhousing Was coming off.
yes you could use fishing line but I used string the first time and it didn’t hold up very well, hence the weedwacker wire.

the OP has a 3.0 so stringing the new cable in place is easier than routing it on a V engine around the wye pipe
And just why are you responding to me?
Why not respond to the OP

He asked?
Will fishing line work?
 

1985 Century Mustang

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@Scott06 So I can I keep the original shift cable and inner when I remove it, and then re-use it again without having to destroy it. Thanks for the clarification. I'll check out some videos too. I appreciate all the input everyone.
 
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Scott06

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@Scott06 So I can I keep the original shift cable and inner when I remove it, and then re-use it again without having to destroy it. Thanks for the clarification. I'll check out some videos too. I appreciate all the input everyone.
yes in theory. I would inspect it carefully , assuming its in good shape reuse it. This is what I did when changing my bellows 3 years ago, shifted perfectly so I left it
 
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