Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

[soloblazer]

I just put boat in water for first time this year, and it will shift in and out of gear perfect when not running, but when running it will go into reverse pretty easy, but when triing to go from reverse to neutral or forward its really hard, and sometimes you have to push so hard its goes past neutral and into forward, and vis versa, making it really hard to pull up to docks and such. The engine is idling about 900 rpms or maybe a little less., someone has said something about a kill switch or something not sure what that is. but when the engine is off you can shift perfect and its does go into gear fine. it just seems like when its running its hard to shift in and out of gear, really hard to get to neutral again. thanks in advance for the help

The engine is a 97 mercruiser 3.0 lx with the alpha one.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

The idle rpm should only be between 650 and 700, yours is high. The lower shift cable is probably going out. You can check the interrupt switch while running on muffs. If you push it in and it kills the engine it works.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

I second what IVAZ writes. Look where your shift cable hooks up at the engine. There are a couple of cables that meet there at a plate. On the plate is a micro switch. With the engine running, engage the swith manually. It should kill the engine. If it doesn't, then the switch is bad or has been disconnected.

 

[soloblazer]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

is this the switch that engages one way for forward and the other way for reverse. or is it the other switch?? thanks

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

I'm not sure which switch you are asking about... on your shift plate there will be a microswitch. It should stay centered in the "valley" of the plate, and only momentarily engage when shifting. If you manually depress this microswitch, the engine should die. If it doesn't, as mentioned above, something is wrong with the switch or the wiring.

Here are a couple of pictures that may help - one of a typical shift plate, and one of the actual switch:

 

[thechamper]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

I have a Sea Ray 170 BR with a Mercruiser 3.0L w/ a Digital Electrontic Ignition System...

Before I go into my issue quick question: If pressing on the lever does kill the engine does that mean it is still good? On mine (see picture) my shift kit is mounted directly to the engine rocker. When I engage the throttle it kills my engine. For the past year I have disconnected the switch and left it hanging as it is in the picture. I have been told this is not a good thing to do, so now I am trying to fix it. I have tried adjusting the cables with no luck. My boat will shift into forward no problem, but has a heck of a time going into netural and reverse.

Recently I purchased the shift switch kit online. Last weekend I went to install it and realized that my model is motor that you have to relocated the shift plate to install the new switch:

https://www.mercruiserparts.com/bull...2002/EN_01.PDF

From the Service Bulletin, see Note 1" which says:
For the following models that have the Shift Interrupt Switch mounted to the top of the aluminum rocker cover, an alternate location will have to be selected for mounting the replacement Shift Plate Kit.
MCM 3.0L/LX (Conventional / DIG.IGN. / EST IGN.) 0C856559 thru 0F603999

So I guess my issue is either where do I mount this new shift kit OR do I even need to if the switch is still good - - if it's good then what is my problem when shifting into neutral and reverse?

Any advice will be helpful, I've searched all the threads on here and other sight with no luck.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0l alpha one Shifting Help Please

First off, welcome aboard!

You need to post your question in a new thread in order for it to be seen and answered. Your problem sounds like a typical bad lower shift cable however, not a shift interupt switch problem.