2005 3.0 Liter stalls when shifting

[Fishinerie]

This is a 2005 3.0 liter Mercruiser Engine installed in a Starcraft Islander. The engine starts fine but when transitioning the boat from idle in neutral to forward the RPM's fall way off and the boat stalls the same thing happens when shifting into reverse. The motor and drive work fine except for low RPM operation such as one needs for launch and recovery especialy in a crowded marina. Somebody told me to jerk the boat out and take it to have it fixed but surely there is something I can try before I go that far.

 

[Don S]

Re: 2005 3.0 Liter stalls when shifting

May be a problem in the shift assist system. Cable damaged causing it to bind. Possibly bent shift rods??
You need to pull the outdrive, disconnect the shift cable and see if the cable moves freely.

 

[Fishinerie]

Re: 2005 3.0 Liter stalls when shifting

Good news. I was talking with a group of guys while preparing to pull my boat to take it to a dealer when one said he was a certified Mercruiser tech and would I mind him taking a look before we pulled out. He started the boat and looked up at me and smiled saying"There is nothing wrong with the linkage your idle is set way too low". He adjusted the idle and everything works as it should now. When I mentioned the dealers name the guy told me that he would have been the one that worked on it anyway since that is his employer. Boaters are such wonderful folks. Thanks.