Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

[JR74CJ5]

1973 MerCruiser I I/O hooked up to 120HP GM inline 4cyl

I just got done doing what was decribed in my two previous posts:

1 Replaced shift cable: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2788650#post2788650

2 Replaced washer in the lower unit: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2793073#post2793073

And tired adjusting as descibed in first forums.
When putting back on the lower section of outdrive i ensured the lower shift shaft was all the way clockwise while the upper was in forward position and cable was pushed all the way in.

It still not consistantly engagin in both forward and reverse.

I'm lost
I can't think of anything else i could have done wrong.

Any Ideas anyone?

Thanks,
~ JR

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

Still havn't been able to think of anything besides actual gear problems in lower unit.

Think I may have to just give in and bring it into a repair shop...



~ JR

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

Is it bolted back onto the boat or are you doing this with the drive off?
If it's bolted back up, I'd suggest checking your lower shift cable for adjustment and or replacement.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

Is it bolted back onto the boat or are you doing this with the drive off?
If it's bolted back up, I'd suggest checking your lower shift cable for adjustment and or replacement.

Thanks for the input, but I have just done both. Replaced the cable and adjusted per the info i received on the earlier mentioned two previous forum posts...

But, to answer your question, yes it is bolted back onto the boat.

Thanks,
~ JR

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

Then I wont be a lazy arse and go read your other 2 posts..lol

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

lol.. No worries... I appriciate the input and attempt to help either way!

~ JR

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

if you disconnect the lower shift cable off the shift bracket, can you get the gears to engage if you move the cable by hand? With engine off?

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

if you disconnect the lower shift cable off the shift bracket, can you get the gears to engage if you move the cable by hand? With engine off?

It's very wierd... sometimes yes, and sometimes no. I know thats a peculilar response, but sometimes i pull the cable and reverse will lock, push and it'll lock. then while adjusting pull cable all the way (with brass barrell in the forwards adjustment point but control in reverse like it should while adjusting reverse) and it wont lock anymore...

Seems like everytime i start to adjust it, I'll adjust the forward, then reverse, and forward wont work again, so i adjust and reverse wont work... Driving me crazy!

I read a post last night that named a part i can't remember the name but seemed like what i had going on.

Also as a side note I did before knowing as much as i know now (which is still little...) try to adjust the old shift cable before deciding to replace, and tried adjusting the barrel on the control cable part of the "linkage". Any possibility that can have some impact on what i am experiencing?

~ JR

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

I have never adjusted my remote shifter cable so I am not positive, but it seems likely that if the adjustment is off, the shift bracket will reach its limit of travel before the remote shifter does. Seems possible. Can you see any wear marks on the theaded shaft of the cable to indicate where it may have been?

Thats why I asked if it engages while moving by hand and having someone on the prop rotating it to positively engage it. Suck alone too much in and out.

If you visually look at the lower shift cable threaded shaft, and notice how many threads are exposed when you push or pull on the end and have it engaged, and see if you have the same amount of threads exposed when in the bracket that will tell you if the cable needs to be moved more to engage it. (hopefully that makes sense) Maybe try marking it with something to see if you are getting full travel.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

If it would consitantly engage/lock into gear by manually pulling the cable i'd try all that. (already have tried most of it )

But even while manually pulling on the cable out of all the bracket/linkage it doesn't "consistantly" engage the gears (lock the prop)...

Quite possible i suppose that i was provided the wrong shift cable when replacing two days ago. (although went to a shop and told them year, make model of outfrive... said it was the one..?)

Made sure lower shift shaft all the way clockwise after replacing missing washer from lower shift shaft yesterday and that the cable was engaged all the way in (forward)...

I am a noobie with boat mechanics, so also quite possible i messed something up... But it all seemed easy after getting the instructions off these awesome forums...

So I'm at a loss.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

When you say "all the way clockwise"....It was pointing straightforward..12 oclock?

I wonder if your lower shift foot is on a few degrees off...thusly affecting the travel shft cable travel?? Just random thoughts from a random brain...

Trust me, I went through this myself and have a few "I DUNNO" threads open as we speak! lol
Hang in there

 

[system-f]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

I will throw this out there as I had the same problem, but I'm not sure if it applies to the 1973 like it does my 1971. I didn't read all of the forums so this may have been coverd in the how-to you read, but wanted to make sure you had the information.

Everyone told me the intial adjustment of the shift cable was 6" but for my older unit it is actually 5 7/8". until I figured that out I could not get full forward or reverse as I would lose one when adjusting the other because the intial shift cable adjustment was wrong.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

When you say "all the way clockwise"....It was pointing straightforward..12 oclock?

I wonder if your lower shift foot is on a few degrees off...thusly affecting the travel shft cable travel?? Just random thoughts from a random brain...

Trust me, I went through this myself and have a few "I DUNNO" threads open as we speak! lol
Hang in there

Yeah the lower section of the shift shaft was clockwise engaged in forward. The middle / uppersection of shift shaft was pointing 12 o clock twards front of boat. Not a bad idea to double check it i suppose, my Brother helped me put it back together and we made sure to watch that thanks to the advise on these forums.

Thanks!
~ JR

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

So you mean from the center of the hole for the stud to the brass barrel center of the nut holding the threads against cable housing?

Because that is sounding exactly like my issue...

Thanks for the inpit

~ JR

 

[JR74CJ5]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

So you mean from the center of the hole for the stud to the brass barrel center of the nut holding the threads against cable housing?

Because that is sounding exactly like my issue...

Thanks for the inpit

~ JR

I meant to put an "or" in there somewhere

 

[JerryIrons]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

>But even while manually pulling on the cable out of all the bracket/linkage it >doesn't "consistantly" engage the gears (lock the prop)...

If you cannot shift correctly (prop locks etc) while manually pulling the shift cable by hand (barrel is out of holder), you will never get this fixed with a shift cable adjustment at the barrel area.

Does the cable slide easily, attempting to put the gear into forward and reverse (and turning the shift shaft connectors correctly)?

Is there play in the shift linkage area? (brass parts near transom between upper and lower units) Can you shift into gear with the cable, and then with your finger attempt to move the shift shaft shoe that is in the linkage assembly? Does the prop lock when your finger helps things out?

-Jerry

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Mercruiser Shifting "Deeper issue?"

Read this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=413495 especially post# 5 for the troubleshooting, and post #12 test. Good luck.