Alpha One Gen 2 Shift / Remote Shift Cable Adjustment at Shift Plate

[JEC]

Ran into what I take to be contradictory instructions in Seloc Manual vs Mercruiser Manual for adjustment of remote control shift cable at engine shift plate.

Did the following to adjust my shift cables at shift plate.

Set drive unit shift cable center of end guide hole to center of brass barrel at 6 inches per Merc Manual #14, April 2001 edition, and attached cable to shift lever and anchor.

Then moved brass barrel on remote control shift cable to visually align attaching points (clevis pin hole and stud). After this alignment, Mercury Manual 14 says to turn brass barrel 4 turns away from cable end guide and reconnect (Page 4A-32 of April 2001 Manual). Seloc Manual says after this alignment to rotate brass barrel 4 turns clockwise TOWARD the eye of the cable, to correctly preload cable, and reconnect (Page 7-7, Selec #3200, Mercruiser '64 to '91 manual).

This could make quite a difference.

Looks contradictory to me. Anyone else think so. Thoughts?

Thanks,

JEC

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha One Gen 2 Shift / Remote Shift Cable Adjustment at Shift Plate

(Page 7-7, Selec #3200, Mercruiser '64 to '91 manual).

That manual has nothing in it for a Gen II outdrive. Stick with the OEM manual.

 

[JEC]

Re: Alpha One Gen 2 Shift / Remote Shift Cable Adjustment at Shift Plate

Don,

Thanks for your note.

I got that '64 to '91 Seloc Mercruiser Manual before I got the Merc OEM #14 manual (when I put a new water pump in the lower drive). That Seloc manual addressed the water pump installation for a Gen 2 unit and shows pictures of the Gen 2 pump (on page 10-48) but as you point out a lot of Gen 2 stuff may not be there and will be in the '92 through '00 and later Seloc editions.

I got into this issue when adjusting my shift cables as part of a workup for rachetting that occurs intermittently when I shift from neutral to forward. Had intermittent engine cut out issues when shifting from reverse to neutral and less commonly when shifting from forward to neutral. Mostly occurring about the same time the rachetting occurs and when I have to assertively shift to forward to get the dog clutch to engage.

When I isolated the shift cable to the lower drive and 'shifted' it manually it seemed pretty smooth (boat out of water) Readjusted the shift cables, took the boat out, and it shifted very well, neutral to forward and reverse and vice versa, without rachetting and without cut out. Thought I had cured it with the shift cable adjust but after about a half hour running at various speeds and shift trials, it started intermittently ratchetting again and intermittently cutting out again when coming back to neutral, more so coming from reverse to neutral.

I've pretty much covered the trouble shooting path for this in the Merc OEM manual that pertains to the remote control, free travel of the remote cable, the shift plate, and the remote and drive shift cable adjustments, the cut out switch position (the higher up stuff without pulling the drive).

Think I may need a lower cable. I would expect it to me more constant as to the problem (not intermittent) but don't have experience on that point. Don't have other ideas at this point. There's no junk floating up into the aft part of the drive area that could intermittently obstruct the turning of the shift shaft. There could be some obstruction of the linkage lower down but I have not been in there, yet.

Any comment/s welcome.

Thanks,

JEC