Pre Alpha Forward / Reverse / Neutral Issue

[Rake722]

Hi All,

I seem to be having a problem with F/N/R on my pre alpha 1977 MC-1 style drive - the one with the pre load pin.
I think the cables have stretched as when I try to go back to N from F, I have to go into R an inch or so to get it into N.

Sometimes it does not engage in reverse until the mercontrol lever is quite far back, once in reverse its ok.

The shift cables are on the transom assembly and not on the engine as i have seen.

Is there a way of finding out if it is stretched cables and if so a how to adjust ?

I have seen chrisa's you tube but am not sure if it applies to my drive or not ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_tgevX2aI

I have also found this -

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/bullet/89/89_04.PDF

But the bracket and location is different on mine....

Many thanks....multiple issues at present ...

 

[achris]

Location of the shift plate is just that, the location of the shift plate, everything about the adjustment is the same. If the cable has stretched (extremely unlikely) then an adjustment is all that's needed. The cable inner is wire, not nylon or any other stretchy material. Have you done, or had done, any work on the drive recently? I would be looking more at slop in the shift system, loose slider on the end of the cable, the shoe on the end of the upper shift shaft opening up slightly.. That sort of thing.

 

[Rake722]

Thanks Chris Last job was a water pump replacement. And I noticed the shift shaft washer was missing so replaced it. Other than that nothing. I will go check it tomorrow for slop. Do I need a degree tool for this or can it be done in another way ?

 

[achris]

In my video you will have seen how I checked the total system slop. If you have more than the maximum permissible, you may need to use a degree indicator to narrow it done. Do you have the instruction for making the bit you need?

 

[Rake722]

No instruction, I thought it was one of those special tools

 

[achris]

The instructions are in the back on one of the manuals. Give me a few minutes and I'll find it and post you up a copy....

Instruction for use...













Print this out and you have your tool (you may need to re-scale to get the right size)...

 

[fishrdan]

Check your lower shift cable for slop, where the brass adjustment barrel connects to the shift plate assy. Does the brass barrel have a snug fit onto the stud with just enough free-play so it doesn't bind, or is it sloppy and loose. If the brass barrel and stud have a bunch of slop, read on.....

My 72 MC-1 with the shift plate up on the transom shield has an issue with new lower shift cables as the adjustable brass barrel's hole is too large for the stud, which adds a ton of slop into the shift system. To solve this I cut a piece of cheap white "Bic Pen" to make a bushing between the brass barrel and stud. The Bic bushing was a perfect fit and took all the slop out of the lower shift cable, while allowing enough free play so it doesn't bind. $.29 fix, and the Bic bushing hasn't worn out after 10+ years.

 

[Rake722]

Checked some of this today but could not remove the drive as no gaskets available here at present.

I did a sanity check and found that going into forward works but getting back the neutral I have to pull the remotr control back half an inch behind the neutral click stop and it goes ok into N.

Going into revers takes the remote lever more travel and the drive dogs grind and she then goes in to R ok and from R to neutral is ok.

I adjusted the drive cable barrel 4 turns out - made it worse to get R no effect on Neutral from forward.
4 turns in made it a bit better getting into R but still the dogs grind. 8 turns in made it worse.

I viewed the shift lever from behind the drive and was not sure if what I saw was correct or not but here goes...

In N the shift lever was at about 45 from the line of the hull, in Forward it was lined up the the line of the hull and in reverse it was headed to 90 from true.

It seems to my untrained eye that the ravel is there and the cables seem to do as they should but I am not sure...is this right ?

@dan - no play in the barrel guide / bush - all tight.

 

[achris]

Sounds like everything outside the drive is fine, you are going to have to pull the drive and check with the degree tool....

 

[Rake722]

Thanks Chris I'll get on to it as soon as the gasket set arrives and let you know the outcome. If it is the drive is the fix and day or hard job ? I have been offered another drove at £500 and as mine already has filler in the side it might be a good move to get it. Thanks Ron

 

[achris]

If there is excess movement you need a whole bunch of tools to get in there. It'll be easier, quicker and cheaper to buy a new SEI lower...