mercury mercruiser 3.0 shift cable issue engine dies out?

ilove2fixx

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hi guys ok heres the rundown.. i replaced the shift cable because i was replacing a ripped shift bellow and after all that was done,, now its hard for me to adjust the lower shift cable, i heard its 6 inches from center stud to outer hole but at 6 inches that big golden nut that swivels.. i tried everything but it seems like shifting is just to stiff, and im still having the same issue of the engine staling when going from forward to neutral it would stall and now even from reverse to neutral? they told me last time that it might be that shift cable so i replaced it and still no go.. i hope yall can help me beacuse im loosing it
 

Bt Doctur

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All depends on how you installed the shift cable.If you followed the directions in the manual it should work.Could be mis-routed or kinked/twisted internall if you did not have someone inside the boat turning the shift cable while to tightend it.
 

Lenmar

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Problem could also be the shift arm that the cable is pushing down near the drive. I have had a few get corrosion built up around the bushings and make it hard to shift. It should move by hand with almost no resistance at all.
 

ilove2fixx

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before i did all that work shifting arm was way smoother and engine wasnt as sensative as now stalling every shift .. any diagram for adjustment on both shift cables on 2003 3.0 mercruiser engine
 

ilove2fixx

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Ok i adjusted it some more but it only goes into fwd but not reverse itll just die out when trying to engage in rev? The shift cable to the rear drive has about 1 and 1/2 inch of play, that is too much play correct ? Here is a pic of it non extended and extended .. while in fwd and locked prop ..
 

ilove2fixx

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ilove2fixx

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All depends on how you installed the shift cable.If you followed the directions in the manual it should work.Could be mis-routed or kinked/twisted internall if you did not have someone inside the boat turning the shift cable while to tightend it.

Aw crap i didnt have anyone holding it.while i was toghtening it.. it was flopping arround my father said lol
 

Bt Doctur

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Shift into fwd and remove the drive . I get the video I made
 
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ilove2fixx

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I had my father look under while.i was pusing and pulling the shift cable and he confirmed it moved a quarter and back to straight just like you have in the video so im good right? Maybe its just the adjustment out if whack ?
 

Bt Doctur

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Try the Red Neck Method
remove the lower shift cable from the bracket, shift contol box into full fwd, push the black plastic sleeve inward untill the prop locks turning it CCW.
attach plastic sleeve to stud, adjust brass barrel to fit.
Report how it works
 

ilove2fixx

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Try the Red Neck Method
remove the lower shift cable from the bracket, shift contol box into full fwd, push the black plastic sleeve inward untill the prop locks turning it CCW.
attach plastic sleeve to stud, adjust brass barrel to fit.
Report how it works

Lol thats what i did and it worked but only to fwd gear nd back to.neautral if i try reverse its very stiff like ill break something i push anymore.. and engine just dies
 

Bt Doctur

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it moved a quarter and back to straight ????
What does that mean?????????
Remove the drive and test the shifting according to the video. If you installed an impeller you may have the splined shaft in the wrong position or the wheel is behind the arms in the shift slide not between them .
Page 4B-34 right side in here http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6B4R3.PDF
 
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ilove2fixx

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it moved a quarter and back to straight ????
What does that mean?????????
Remove the drive and test the shifting according to the video. If you installed an impeller you may have the splined shaft in the wrong position or the wheel is behind the arms in the shift slide not between them .
Page 4B-34 right side in here http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6B4R3.PDF

I tilted the drive althe way up , and i was moving that black.plastic cover on the end of the shift cable back and forth. ( fwd to reverse ) and my father said it moved a quarter turn and back to.center ( straight ).. just like on the video you showed us..
 

Bt Doctur

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Your missing the point, the video shows how much the shoe must move not that the shoe moves. I have one in the shop, will post some pics in a bit.
We cant be sure you installed the drive correctly.Did you open my link and go to that page?
 

Bt Doctur

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full fwd and full reverse
DSCN3719_zpskjlh3vga.jpg

DSCN3720_zpskph4zoms.jpg
 

Rick Stephens

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Aug 13, 2013
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I did watch that but my issue is that his shift bracket is way different then mine.. mine is on the other side and on mine the shift cable goes on top not on the bottom like on the video , also do i have to also adjust that other cable with the black brass barrel ?

Linkage is the same, just flipped over.
 

ilove2fixx

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full fwd

I'm sorry guys but I double checked today and the little thingy on the bottom of the drive like you have in the picture doesn't move at all so I took everything apart the drive and an adjusted it and now it moves like it you have in the picture but we have an issue when going into forward it makes grinding noise the whole time light grinding noise and upon going back to neutral the engine will stall but if I go to reverse it works fine and sometimes it Does stall
 
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Bt Doctur

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Well, were narrowing it down.IF fwd has the shoe in a straight line and you still dont have good fwd engagement you need to remove the drive
Something is still binding. With the drive removed there is no resistance on the lower cable and it must move freely. The shift slide is connected to the lower shaft by the arm with the roller, that must move freely.
If you have all these things correct and fwd is still not engaging correctly go to the drive and move the brass shoe fully clockwise.If MUST BE AT 12:00 ,in a straight line .Not 12:30, not 1:00 with the prop locked in a CCW direction
Report back
 
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