Alpha drive ????

[backwater dawg]

I have a 1988 Alpha drive that last summer lost the access plug on the upper case that covers the nut that holds the shift cable--my question is --by losing that quarter sized plug-is there anything I should do before launch--is the cable going to be bad ?? Or am I OK--It seems to shift between gears ok--even though its out of the water----thanks Steve

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha drive ????

I might have to start machining some of those things again.
You do need something there to keep the water out of the shift cable.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha drive ????

Ayuh,........

Even though it might take awhile,.....

It'll Sink your boat.....

And,... It'll Destroy the Lower Shift Cable......Probably already Has.....

It's a SSteel Welch Plug....

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Alpha drive ????

I agree--nothing good can happen---the boat is not back in the water yet--I'm going to replace the plug before launch---soooo-- did I screw something up????? Steve

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Alpha drive ????

I cleaned out and sprayed wd40 on that cable last fall---how hard is that cable to replace--I assume it attaches to the gear shift conn in the middle ??? thanks Steve

 

[ziggy]

Re: Alpha drive ????

looks like ya need a copy of service manual #6 to me...


http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

pp4B-17 shows the actual replacement of the cable. however there's quite a few steps involved prior to getting to a point where ya replace the cable.....

there's a pic of yer welsh plug in the dia. of the upper too on pp 3A-10......

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Alpha drive ????

Thanks---my drive is a 1988--is this the correct manual ??? Thanks Steve

 

[ziggy]

Re: Alpha drive ????

scroll down on the opening page. it lists application by serial number.

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Alpha drive ????

This is prob more than I should do--my question is--is there a short cable in the upper housing that connects to that bolt behind the plug that fell out?? It can't be the same cable as the long one that runs thru the housing up to the shifter--I don't have the drive off yet and I'm assuming that if the shifter works without to much trouble--I should just live with it untill the cable binds too much??? Thanks Steve