Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

[kwoolard]

I have a 1974 888 Mercruiser with I think what is referred to as a Pre-Alpha Type I drive. I am replacing the lower shift cable and have noticed in my Seloc manual that there are two different measurements between the brass barrel and the cable guide. One is 5-7/8" and the other 6". One is for the early style and the other is for the later style. The cable I have is a newer style cable which threads into the bell housing from the aft/rear side. Are these measurements based on the year of the drive or the type of shift cable that you have? Which measurement should I set it at? <br /><br />Don S, you seem to be the manual guru around here, do you have detailed replacement instructions for the shift cable on my unit? The Seloc manual doesn't seem to give all the methods for taking out play and adjusting the shift interruptor in detail.<br /><br />Thanks<br />Keith

 

[Bondo]

Re: Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

You're Up-dating Yours to the Late style...... Use the Up-dated Adjustments Also........<br /><br />I'm sure Don will be along shortly with the lowdown........<br /><br />Glad to see You're Going Back Together with it..................

 

[xikxak]

Re: Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

Heres where I got my info.http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf dave

 

[achris]

Re: Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

Try this link.<br /><br /> Engine FAQs

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

hello<br /> to convert the bell housing from fwd entry to aft entry takes a special STRAIGHT, not TAPERED, 1/4" pipe tape.the instructions are in the alpha/mr manual. remove the bell housing, remove the old fwd entry cable and run the tap on through from the fwd side of the housing.use the updated aft entry cable adjusted per the alpha specs. use perfect seal on the cable entry threads to help them seal. what type cable do you have now? fwd or aft entry?<br /> the fwd entry cable was discontinued by merc some years back. may have already been converted.

 

[Don S]

Re: Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

Here is a service bulletin for adjustment, it kind of narrows down all the places you have to look in the manual.<br /> Service Bulletin. <br /><br />Here is a link to the manual also.<br /><br /> Service Manual #6

 

[kwoolard]

Re: Lower Unit Shift Cable Replacement

Yes, she's going back together. Slowly but surely, the hard part is finding the time to work on it. Hopefully the new bell housing will solve all the overheating problems I had.<br /><br />Rodbolt,<br />The new bell housing I bought seemed to have the threads tapped all the way through from the fwd side to the aft side of the housing. I have the newer style cable, which installs from the aft side. The cable pipe threads seemed to seat fully from the aft side, so that problem is out of the way. <br /><br />Thanks Bondo and Don-S. Hopefully, she'll be running by this weekend! I'll post an update under my overheating topic once I get it going. That bell housing should fix the problem.<br /><br />Thanks again!!