Alpha shift cable adjustment issue

[bashr52]

I pinched my lower unit shift cable installing my drive after I had the engine out to replace the Y pipe. I replaced it with a new one yesterday, and today when trying to adjust it per the book, I can get forward with no issue but reverse just hits the shift dogs and clicks. If I leave everything loose and leave off the shift assist module, I can get it to go into both gears no issue using the control lever. Prop locks in fully when trying to rotate by hand, but as soon as I tighten everything up and add the shift assist module, I lose reverse. It seems the shift assist spring is pulling just enough on the assembly to prevent it from dropping in fully.

Procedure I'm following is as follows:

-I adjusted the remote cable to 6" from the center of the barrel nut to the center of the eyelet when the prop was fully in gear and cable pushed all the way in.

-With the control lever in full throttle, I adjust the control cable to slide on the stud and bolt smoothly, and then 4 turns to the right.


What am I missing?

Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

lose the spring loaded assist and maybe raise the position of the stud on the lower shift cable

 

[harringtondav]

I had the same problem recently.. My recipe: Move the barrel nut rearward to engage FWD sooner out of neutral. Move it forward to engage REV sooner out of neutral. Watch you throttle cable to be sure it doesn't move before you get prop lock in each direction. Then check it again on the muffs. That's where I'm at now. Tomorrow I'll FINALLY get into the water, and expect to have to give the barrel nut a turn or so either direction to get the timing right. Sounds like you need to move yours several turns forward. It took me six turns. Not to counter BT Doctur, but I'd make these adjustments with the cable stud in the bottom of the slot, then tweak it if necessary. Mine worked it's way to the top when new, and my shift cutout Y plate was hyper sensitive and killed my engine when shifting.

Also, that spring loaded shift assist is a push-pull compression spring. If it doesn't have equal resistance both ways, replace it. It adds resistance to your helm shift controller when shifting either way. I'm guessing this gives the shift cut out system a little extra nudge, or dampens the load on the dog clutch.

 

[bashr52]

I will check the position of the stud, but I seem to remember them both being fixed and not adjustable. I did verify the throw in the control cable was the complete 3" +/- 1/8" so it's got be in the interface between the two cables.

 

[bashr52]

I took another look at it last night. The stud was positioned at the very bottom of the slot for some reason, so I moved it closer to the top for slightly more travel. That led to a more positive engagement in reverse, but would still get an occasional click of the dogs. I added 2 more turns to the control cable, and moved the stud to the top of the slot. That fixed it, I now have instant engagement in both directions with no more clutch noise, even with the shift assist installed.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you read the manual it does have a section on cable adjustments and mentions that the stud does affect the reverse adjustment