Gear shifter not working properly

[Deepblue22]

Having problems with the gear shifting. This is a Volvo 5.0 GxiB(F)-Sx on a 2002 Seaswirl Striper.

Sometimes the shift lever will bind and not go forward. If I push the little button at the base to bypass the gearshift, then it will go forward and I can increase / decrease the throttle with no problem. Sometimes, when it is in forward, I pull back into neutral position, but the gears are still turning and it is still powering forward. Once, I shifted into reverse to back out of the dock, and instead of going backward, the boat went forward ! Sometimes, it works fine, as designed. In all instances the throttle advances fine so the problem lies with the gear shifter. It is definately unpredictable, and unsafe.

I took it to the dealer who did some kind of adjustment but that did not solve the problem and it re-occurred on my first trip to the ocean.

Anyone with thoughts on the cause or solution:

1. is this problem in the gear shift lever or where it attaches to the drive
2. should I try to repair this or just buy a whole new gear/throttle lever ?
3. recommended repair procedure

Thanks !

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

Could be your gear shift cable is corroded up. Disconnect it at the drive and at the control and see how easy it moves. If you are in salt water they can corrode up pretty fast. repalce with a TFT Extreme cable. I am having very good luck with those.

 

[Deepblue22]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

Attached are 2 pictures of the front and back of my control. I am going to replace the cables. Also thinking about a new volvo control (PN 3885624) I have seen listed for $200. My question - for $200 does that give me the handle, and all the mechanical components on the inside, or, are the mechanical components additional ? $200 would be affordable for piece of mind that the entire system has been replaced.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

If its new it should include the handle. Have you tried greasing the one you have? Use some white grease. a friends cobra did the same and I was thinking cable but when I un hooked the short cable it shifted fine, so I pulled the control box and greased it up and everything is fine.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

It's more than likley a bad shift cable but I have seen some volvo controls bind from corrosion in the control shaft.Try working some oil into all of these aeras it normaly makes them like brand new.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

Are you sure you don't have a bad shift cable?
Try disconnecting the shift cable (NOT the throttle cable) and see if the shifter actually moves. If it does reconnect at the control, disconnect the cable from the outdrive and have one try. If it still works, have someone hold pressure on the shift cable and see if they can stop the cable when you try to shift. If the cable is bad, they can prevent you from moving the control and you need a new cable. IF it still moves ok, you have drive problems.

 

[Deepblue22]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

Don I did not disconnect the cables yet, but what I can tell you is that currently it will shift into forward, and, into reverse, and the throttle and gear cables move freely. When a person at the stern braces a screwdriver on the shift mechanism it is possible to prevent any movement at the helm lever control. I also noted a slight separation that forms under normal forward shifting, in the components that anchor the gear cable to the control. This is shown in the photo attached (the gear cable is on the left).

Do you think I should continue with the disconnection tests you described or does this provide sufficient infomration to further diagnose ?

It seems to me like it is currently working as designed, but, that there is something unknown that causes it from time to time to disengage from normal opertion and that is when the shifting errors occur.

 

[Deepblue22]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

hypothetically, what issues could cause the observed problem and how best should i continue diagnosing -

1. shift into forward
2. boat idles forward
3. shift into neutral
4. boat still idling forward
5. shift back and forth over next 2 days and it somehow fixes itself, then after more hrs fishing it recurrs again, then hrs later, fixed again
6. take to mechanic but they cannot recreate the problem. Adjust gear cable and determine OK
7. next trip on ocean after a few consecutive days fishing the problem recurrs.

 

[Don S]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

and how best should i continue diagnosing

Do as I suggested in reply #6

 

[jlgoodnight]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

Maybe just the cable locking collar on one or both ends of the cable housing. there should be no sliding of cable housing. Check that the clamps are tight and not worn both ends. if thats OK you may have a bad cable inside the housing..........like a fray & stretch.

maybe late, but it may help?

 

[chadelliott]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

I am anxious to find out if you fixed this. Mine is doing the exact same thing as you have described.

 

[Deepblue22]

Re: Gear shifter not working properly

I did get this fixed in 2010. I did the test don recommended in #6 and the shifter was not the problem. I took it in to the dealer. They serviced the lower unit and removed some junk from the exhaust that somehow was able to bind up the shifting. I dont really understand but it has worked flawlessly ever since. Thanks for the help and recommendations.