alpha one lower shift cable length

[whiskeyRichard]

I purchased a new lower shift cable and it is nearly 2 feet shorter than the one that is currently in the boat.

The new one is about 58 inches in length.

The one currently in the boat is not the correct one or I received the wrong part in the mail. The one I received in the mail did not have any packaging to indicate what the part number was.....I thought that was strange.

Any idea which? Anybody know what the alpha one shift cable length is supposed to be? Does it depend on the engine/year?

My engine is a 1980 mercruiser 260.

Thanks,
wR

 

[achris]

All Alpha shift cables are the same length. The Merc number for your original cable was -73679A2, which has superseded to -865436A02...

Sounds like you bought a non-genuine. In which case... all bets are off.

Chris.......

 

[harringtondav]

whiskeyRichard Just an FYI. I replaced my lower shift cable with a Sierra aftermarket. It is the same length as the original OEM. But both cables are much longer than necessary. I put a generous loop from the transom plate to the shift plate, but the loop crowds my engine bay hatch/sun deck.

It is working fine, but that long cable doesn't make sense, since it requires a 180+ degree bend after the 90 degree bend up from the transom plate. This seems like unnecessary drag and resistance. I could put my engine forward in the rear bench seat, and still have adequate cable. Apparently Merc. has long distance applications for this cable.

So if your cable has the same cable core travel, correct bell hsg. slide and shift plate lever connection, and fits without any tight bends, I think it will work.

achris Your thoughts?

 

[achris]

There is a prescribed path for the cable, you can't just 'loop it around'. The reason for the extra length is because there are applications where the engine is set forward some, and there's a jack shaft between the engine and the drive.

Here's the right routing for the cable in 'non-jackshaft' applications. ie, most...



Chris..........

 

[harringtondav]

There is a prescribed path for the cable, you can't just 'loop it around'.

Knowledge is power. I thought I had it nailed with my '96 rev of manual #14, and 90-821072960 595 installation manual. Neither shows the cable routing above. I saved your image. Next spring I'll re-thread my lower shift cable accordingly. ...and eventually my boating mate's, who continues to operate w/o a working shift interrupt switch.

 

[Richards crappy boat]

I'm having a similar issue I just installed seirra cable # 18-2603 on my alpha one gen 1 . Moving the cable by hand it goes into reverse and forward gears just fine but I can only get 5 and a half inches between the barrel and end of cable. I'm stumped. Wrong cable? Install failure?

 

[achris]

I'm having a similar issue I just installed seirra cable # 18-2603 on my alpha one gen 1 . Moving the cable by hand it goes into reverse and forward gears just fine but I can only get 5 and a half inches between the barrel and end of cable. I'm stumped. Wrong cable? Install failure?

Bolded section is your problem but, 4 year old thread, please start your own.