alpha 1 won't go into reverse

[Dano91]

Doe's the shift shaft wear out ,I've tried everything else ?? 1989 mercruiser,replaced with se 106 about a year ago

 

[kenny nunez]

The stainless shift shafts hold up compared to the early steel ones. There is a tutorial on this site showing the procedure to adjust the cables. I have found a build up of corrosion restricting the slider from traveling enough in front of the bellhousing restricting reverse. With the lower cable disconnected and the drive off the slider needs to freely travel to the front wall of the bellhousing.

 

[Dano91]

thanks, but i'm referring to the brass intermediate shift shaft, I've had this whole ourdrive apart a few [many] times,and the only thing stopping it from going into reverse seems to be a little too much playin the shaft area

 

[kenny nunez]

Does the receiver on the bottom of the bell housing have a good fit over the brass intermediate shaft in the upper housing? With someone holding slider and the cable disconnected in the boat how much can the cable pulled back and forth, there should not be any slack at that point. When you had the lower disassembled did you try to tighten the shift spool by removing the cotter pin on the end of the spool shaft? There must be 2.75” - 3” of cable travel on the control box shift cable from full forward to full reverse.
Is the control box a genuine Mercruiser or a generic brand?
Check that the splines on the stainless shift shaft are in line from top to bottom, I have heard of one that looked like it was machined wrong.

 

[Dano91]

yeah,I even took the cable apart and pulled it out as far as you can,still won't go into reverse.but when apart you can manually turn the shaft and it goes right in

 

[kenny nunez]

If you pull on the shift cable with the drive mounted does it go into reverse?

 

[Dano91]

no

 

[kenny nunez]

When did this problem begin? I helped someone recently and it turned out it was a combination of the aluminum shift lever ,the stainless shaft that the lever attaches to and the shift slider.

 

[Scott06]

When did this problem begin? I helped someone recently and it turned out it was a combination of the aluminum shift lever ,the stainless shaft that the lever attaches to and the shift slider.

Was thinking the same thing wear in bushings and swivel and other parts having enough play that it wont go in gear enough

 

[Dano91]

yes,it seems to be a few things wore enough to create just a little play,i can actually reach up in to push on the lever, and it will go into reverse

 

[Rhadley]

yes,it seems to be a few things wore enough to create just a little play,i can actually reach up in to push on the lever, and it will go into reverse

did you figure this out? I have the same problem. The slack measurement on the lower shaft is slightly high (.59 vs .56). I can push the shoe/lower unit over a little and it locks in reverse, but it won't go into reverse otherwise. Shift anchor is slid all the way up on the bracket.

 

[kenny nunez]

Another place to look is the pocket that the slider travels in for reverse in the upper gear housing. Crud will build up in there and restrict the slider.