Merc Stays in gear!!!

[redjmp]

I have a '78 898 with a pre alpha.
I have replaced the lower shift cable and installed a stiffer sping in the shift interrupt system and verified that the cutout switch works properly.
Yet it still stays in gear when I shift to neutral for a few seconds comming out of reverse and sometimes it stays in gear until I shift past neutral and into forward.
And it does it comming out of forward as well only it does seem to disengage a little sooner. I installed the cable and adjusted as per spec but I am wondering how I can make it shift out of gear sooner.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

and installed a stiffer sping in the shift interrupt system and verified that the cutout switch works properly.

Ayuh,... Obviously, Not,... The motor's not stumbling....

Have you watched it shift, In the water,..?? My guess is your Stiffer spring is the problem....

 

[Don S]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

I am wondering how I can make it shift out of gear sooner.

Get rid of that extra stiff spring. Then when you get it all back together with the proper parts, and adjusted to the OEM service manual (NOT Seloc or Clymers) and make sure the drive itself shifts properly, and the cable from the engine to the shifter/throttle control at the helm is ok and the control is within specs, it will work properly.

 

[redjmp]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Get rid of that extra stiff spring. .

Actually, the spring helps a lot as before I installed it it would stay in gear in both directions and would require going quite a bit past neutral before it would disengage. So much so that it would be hard not to engage the opposite gear and actually land in neutral.
I can now hear the engine stumble to disengage forward although it takes a little while like a couple of seconds. If I go past neutral even just a little bit, then it comes out right away.
Reverse takes maybe 5 seconds before it comes out and takes a little more travel into the forward zone before it will stumble and disengage but nowhere near as much as before.

Is it not the tension of the spring that ultimately shifts the gears?

I think there was even a recall issued by merc to install stiffer springs on some models...

Anyways I believe that my shift cable kit came with installation instructions and I followed those.

Obviously something is not quite right especially as I am used to the instant shifting of a merc outboard.

I would like to try and fudge this by adjusting so that it shifts into gear just a little later on the stick because it seems to go in easily and then theres a little dead zone on the stick travel before the rpm's go up. That way it would want to come out of gear sooner and hopefully be out of gear by the time the lever reaches neutral.

This waiting for neutral business has already caused a collision at the dock.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

You may have slop in your remote control so that is causing this. How old is your control?

 

[redjmp]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Its the original control so it is 30 years old but it doesn't seem to have much slop at all.
It gets into gear easily and engages long before the lever reaches the forward or reverse detent. It gets into gear too quickly if you ask me. And therefore out of gear too late.
I can see that the cable end responds quickly to the remote control and the shift interrupt assembly has no slop either.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Actually, the spring helps a lot as before I installed it it would stay in gear in both directions and would require going quite a bit past neutral before it would disengage. So much so that it would be hard not to engage the opposite gear and actually land in neutral.
I can now hear the engine stumble to disengage forward although it takes a little while like a couple of seconds. If I go past neutral even just a little bit, then it comes out right away.
Reverse takes maybe 5 seconds before it comes out and takes a little more travel into the forward zone before it will stumble and disengage but nowhere near as much as before.

Is it not the tension of the spring that ultimately shifts the gears?

I think there was even a recall issued by merc to install stiffer springs on some models...

Anyways I believe that my shift cable kit came with installation instructions and I followed those.

Obviously something is not quite right especially as I am used to the instant shifting of a merc outboard.

I would like to try and fudge this by adjusting so that it shifts into gear just a little later on the stick because it seems to go in easily and then theres a little dead zone on the stick travel before the rpm's go up. That way it would want to come out of gear sooner and hopefully be out of gear by the time the lever reaches neutral.

This waiting for neutral business has already caused a collision at the dock.

So what is the Mercruiser part number on that stiffer spring in there now?

If Merc. had a recall to install a stiffer spring, then Merc. would have given a replacement spring with a part number on it.

There are tests that you can make from the service manual for the drive that show if there is play in the drive, But it sounds like an issue with the remote shifter or forward shift cable from the shifter to the shift cutoff plate.

 

[redjmp]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Recall #200761 * Mercury Marine/MerCruiser, 405-743-6566 (Recall #0200761)

MCM 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L, 350 MAG: On these engines the shift plate assembly has a shift interrupt spring with the wrong tension. Incorrect tension can delay the shift from forward or reverse to neutral. At least one serious injury as a result of shift failure. Refer to MerCruiser service bulletin 2000-1.

I cant remember the part number but it is of bigger diameter wire and has yellow ends.

I think I need to adjust the switch to react sooner.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Recall #200761 * Mercury Marine/MerCruiser, 405-743-6566 (Recall #0200761)

MCM 4.3L, 5.0L, 5.7L, 350 MAG: On these engines the shift plate assembly has a shift interrupt spring with the wrong tension. Incorrect tension can delay the shift from forward or reverse to neutral. At least one serious injury as a result of shift failure. Refer to MerCruiser service bulletin 2000-1.

I cant remember the part number but it is of bigger diameter wire and has yellow ends.

I think I need to adjust the switch to react sooner.

I have a '78 898 with a pre alpha.

Ayuh,.... The recall has N O T H I N G to do with Your drive dude....

 

[Don S]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Ayuh,.... The recall has N O T H I N G to do with Your drive dude....

I agree, it's for the Alpha I Gen II that has the plunger type shift interrupt switch. You have now designed in problem.

You have other issues with your control and shift cable or adjustments, but trying to cure the other problems by messing with the shift interrupt system.
Not a good thing to do.
Here is that service bulletin, as you can see, it's for different way newer serial number ranges that what you have.


http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/00/00_01.pdf

 

[redjmp]

Re: Merc Stays in gear!!!

Well I put the old spring in and took the boat out this morning and its worse!

The problem is partly due to the spring.

Don't forget that this was not a voluntary recall but one forced on merc by the feds.

And I can bet that there should be a recall on these as well but I guess there weren't enough accidents reported with this model of out drive ( probably 'cause there's so few)so the government didn't force Mercruiser to recall these as well.

My system performs noticeably better with the stiffer spring.

Control cable and shifter have minimal play or slack and are not the problem.

Bottom end shifts easily with a new cable installed correctly as per instructions.


How about some suggestions from outside the box?