Alpha 1 Gen 1 Upper/Remote Shift Canle Help

TruDaddy · Saturday at 10:46 AM

I am having issues on my alpha 1 gen 1shifting in/out of reverse smoothly.

I checked the lower cable for slop. It was 3/8" and in spec. I set it center to center 6".

I moved to the upper cable or remote cable. The travel from WOT forward to WOT reverse is 3 1/4" I believe this makes it out of spec by 1/8"

What is my next move? Is it an adjustment or do I replace that cable? How do I make sure I purchase the correct cable?

alldodge · Saturday at 3:05 PM

The upper shift post can be moved up/down slightly, have you tried to adjust?

TruDaddy · Sunday at 11:20 AM

alldodge said:
The upper shift post can be moved up/down slightly, have you tried to adjust?

I have not tried to adjust. How do I adjust to eliminate the excess travel?

TruDaddy · Sunday at 11:23 AM

Update: I have a gen 1 mercury control cable. I removed and measured (163"). I picked up a new cable at the local boat store. I measured the complete travel of the cable not mounted to anything. It is greater than my old cable. Am I missing something? Will the cable travel be less when mounted to the throttle control? I will mount it to see and report back.

Phillip_333 · Sunday at 11:47 AM

Sounds like you’re on the right track. Lower shift cable connects on the fwd side of the lever in a slot with adjustability. After doing full shift adjustment procedure (looks like you already have), slide that cable up in the slot until good shifting is achieved. Movement in the slot should not affect your fwd gear engagement.

TruDaddy · Sunday at 12:39 PM

Update: Mounting the control cable to the throttle does limit some of its travel. The travel from WOT Forward to WOT Reverse is 3 1/16". This is within spec. Time to mount to engine and continue calibration.

alldodge · Sunday at 4:09 PM

As you found the amount the cable can be moved unconnected has no direct bearing on how much it will move when connected. The throttle control is the limiting factor

TruDaddy · Sunday at 4:30 PM

Update: Shifting in and out of reverse is much improved on muffs but must splash to find out. It does appear that shifting out of neutral forward or reverse is not immediate. What is normal for travel on the throttle handle forward or reverse before the dogs engage? Can I tighten?

kenny nunez · Sunday at 5:18 PM

Just be sure that the carburetor lever does not move before full engagement.

TruDaddy · Sunday at 5:42 PM

kenny nunez said:
Just be sure that the carburetor lever does not move before full engagement.

I think I know what you mean. Can you elaborate?

nola mike · Sunday at 9:33 PM

TruDaddy said:
I think I know what you mean. Can you elaborate?

You don't want to be opening the throttle plate before the shifting has engaged completely

TruDaddy · 2025-08-04T09:42:00-0600

nola mike said:
You don't want to be opening the throttle plate before the shifting has engaged completely

I understand why that is important. Doesn't following the specs from the manual ensure that doesn't happen? If not, what are the finer tweaks/adjustments that should be made?

How far forward/reverse on the throttle controller should it travel when it goes into gear and then applies actual throttle or "thrust"? I ask this way because tge throttle controller is the only feedback I receieve when driving. I cant look at linkages.

nola mike · 2025-08-04T09:45:31-0600

TruDaddy said:
I understand why that is important. Doesn't following the specs from the manual ensure that doesn't happen

It should

TruDaddy said:
How far forward/reverse on the throttle controller should it travel when it goes into gear and then applies actual throttle or "thrust"? I ask this way because tge throttle controller is the only feedback I receieve when driving. I cant look at linkages.

No exact point on the controller. You can tell easily enough though, as long as the engine doesn't rev before the drive clunks

kenny nunez · 2025-08-05T07:41:34-0600

The shift control should move the cable 1.5” for forward or reverse. If you have a genuine Mercruiser control that is what you will have.
If you have a generic marine control with extra holes on the levers sometimes you will have to experiment to get the required cable movement.
Also if your control is generic and is rigged with universal cables that can add adjustment problems.
Genuine Mercruiser style cables have very fine threads for adjustment.

TruDaddy · 2025-08-05T09:38:02-0600

kenny nunez said:
The shift control should move the cable 1.5” for forward or reverse. If you have a genuine Mercruiser control that is what you will have.
If you have a generic marine control with extra holes on the levers sometimes you will have to experiment to get the required cable movement.
Also if your control is generic and is rigged with universal cables that can add adjustment problems.
Genuine Mercruiser style cables have very fine threads for adjustment.

I do have official Mercury Gen 1 Cables and a Quicksilver Commander controller. I splashed the boat yesterday and it does shift in and out of gear a lot easier but I do feel like it is a little Spongey or not as immediate of a shift response when docking. Is this normal? Will raising the adjustable stud slightly help make this a bit less spongey?

Side note: Has something changed? I cannot upload or attach pics without getting an error.

alldodge · 2025-08-05T10:02:16-0600

No one can upload pics

Alpha 1 Gen 1 Upper/Remote Shift Canle Help

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Moderator

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Recruit

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Moderator

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Captain

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Vice Admiral

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Vice Admiral

Captain

Petty Officer 3rd Class

Moderator