Boat starts and idles but dies when put in gear

[The Gemini]

I have a 1985 Ebbtide Catalina with a 3.8 v6. Boat will idle but when trying to put in gear will die....I have had to rev engine up to slam in gear and take off to get it back to shore last weekend. Which I am sure wasn't good to do. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Stamey]

Re: Boat starts and idles but dies when put in gear

Sounds like your interrupt switch is out of adjustment. Is the behavior the same when going into forward or reverse?
The interrupt switch momentarily cuts power to the engine when coming out of gear, so you can actually get it out of gear (helical gears), and if they are worn/out of adjustment it can cause this behavior.
I do not know the exact procedure to adjust them. I'd have to look at a service manual.

Chris

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Boat starts and idles but dies when put in gear

Lower Shift cable!

 

[The Gemini]

Re: Boat starts and idles but dies when put in gear

Chris thanks for the info will do some reading up on it.

 

[The Gemini]

Re: Boat starts and idles but dies when put in gear

81, you think its the lower shift cable? How hard are they to install?

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Boat starts and idles but dies when put in gear

Its not all that hard if you can turn wenches, Look up in stickys at the top and go to merc info. Don has great info on it.

Fist off do you know if it has ever been replaced?

2nd what happens is the cable binds up from corosion and it gets stiff and will not let the cable move smoothly therfor its chopy action slows the shift interrupt and kills the motor insted of momtary killing it.

You can try a cable adjustment and see what happens, there is info on it too.

Good luck!