2001 Sea Ray 210 Sticking in gear

[Mitch13]

We have a 2001 Sea Ray 210 Bowrider with a 5.0 Merc/Alpha Drive. I have noticed over the last couple trips that the boat goes into gear a little rougher then it use to and does not always want to come out of gear weather you you are in forward or reverse. Often I will have to go past neutral to get it out of forward or reverse with the button pressed. I was first thinking that I could have a cable issue but after turning the boat off the throttle moves pretty smooth through forward and reverse. Also if I pull back to neutral while underway and it does not go into neutral if I turn off the engine it will immediately goes into neutral. So I'm thinking that I may have an idle problem that is keeping the boat in gear? I did notice last night that the engine is idling around 800 RPM, anyone have any experience with a like issue?

Thanks,

Frank

 

[Bt Doctur]

very high idle or Bad lower cable or shift interupt not working to sputter the motor

 

[Mitch13]

Thanks BT. What would you consider high idle? What would I be looking for with a bad lower cable? I have looked them over pretty thoroughly and they all look to be in good shape. The shift interrupt switch I should be able to test this without actually shifting correct? The engine should briefly stall?

 

[Searay205]

Seams like shift interrupter switch. when you shift the shift cable translates force to a switch that instaneously kills the engine to take the load off the outdrive gears and makes it easy to shift. A bad shift cable will usually cause the engine to stall when shifting gears.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks BT. What would you consider high idle? What would I be looking for with a bad lower cable? I have looked them over pretty thoroughly and they all look to be in good shape. The shift interrupt switch I should be able to test this without actually shifting correct? The engine should briefly stall?

you cant look over the outside of the cable. the inner sleeve is what wears.

the shift cables only last about 15 years