Hard to shift

jmlloar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
134
I'm having problems getting my mercruiser out of gear once its engauged. Its idleing fine shifter is adjusted corectly. It doesnot have a cutout switch. What year did mercury start useing it? My boat is a 75 with the 888.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Hard to shift

If you have an 888, it had a shift interrupt system from the factory. It's on the same plate as the shift cable and reverse lockout valve and hoses go. If it's not there, then someone has probably removed it.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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71,088
Re: Hard to shift

Merc started using them in 1961 or so..........
 

jmlloar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
134
Re: Hard to shift

my 68 mercruiser 120 doesnt have one.( the 86 replcement 140 I have has it and I understnd how it works and looks like) The 888 looks similar but it does have 1 switch on it where the front and rear cables attach to each other on top of the engine.(it has a ear that touches in rev) But I thought this switch stoped the trim from tilting up in rev. I really need help with this. Its a real pain, I have to kill the engine to switch back to neut, Then start and shift into the gear I need. This makes docking fun.
 

Bondo

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71,088
Re: Hard to shift

jmlloar said:
my 68 mercruiser 120 positivly doesnt have one.

It Should have 1.................
 

jmlloar

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 4, 2005
Messages
134
Re: Hard to shift

I found the switch on both mercruisers. The one on the 888 was hidden behind the exhaust manifold. (and its on a seperate plate from the rev switch) The one on the 120 was what I thought was the rev tilt switch but it was the rev switch that was hidden from view. and the cutout switch is what I was seeing.

Thanks for the help, The 888 had a broken wire at the switch. The insulation was still holding it, but a slight tug revealed the problem.

Thanks for the input.
 
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