remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

[jpstude]

I have a 1978 Starcraft Chieftan 18' with a 140 Mercruiser. The shift cable is broken inside the out drive. I have a Mercruiser out drive off my 1981 sea Ray 210, with a 305. The cable in it is perfect. (a) will that cable work on my 140 - and - (b) I've got the Sea Ray out drive opened up, and I haven't figured out, how to remove the shift cable from it... I bet you guys know the trick! Also: will the prop off the sea Ray work on my 140, it's a little bigger, but it fits on the 140 shaft... whadya think?

 

[Bondo]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

I have a 1978 Starcraft Chieftan 18' with a 140 Mercruiser. The shift cable is broken inside the out drive. I have a Mercruiser out drive off my 1981 sea Ray 210, with a 305. The cable in it is perfect. (a) will that cable work on my 140 - and - (b) I've got the Sea Ray out drive opened up, and I haven't figured out, how to remove the shift cable from it... I bet you guys know the trick! Also: will the prop off the sea Ray work on my 140, it's a little bigger, but it fits on the 140 shaft... whadya think?

Ayuh,.... Only Brand New shift cables are Perfect,....

I don't believe you Can be successful doin' what you propose,...

You'll be miles ahead by buyin' a New shift cable kit, 'n doin' the proper install on the boat needin' it,...

How to do it,... Right,... can be found in Don'S Adults Only section at the top of this forum,...

 

[djmakko]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Second that, by experience only new cables work, some times even a new cable if installed wrong or by mistake routed wrong it just won't work and a new one should be used.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

" I've got the Sea Ray out drive opened up, and I haven't figured out, how to remove the shift cable from it... I bet you guys know the trick! Also: will the prop off the sea Ray work on my 140, it's a little bigger, "

You dont take the outdrive apart, you just remove it from the boat.Without prop numbers its impossable to say

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

AYUH... I looked around, the forum, did some phrase searches, and didn't find the info. That's why I posted the question. I didn't know it would be in the "Adults Only" section. I'll take your advice, and buy a new shift cable kit, and that will be that. Thanks

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

The outdrive was already off the boat, with the gimble still attached. I haven't disassembled the outdrive itself, as there is no need for that.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

How old is the impeller in the outdrive?

 

[cr2k]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Can't picture what you are working on because MC drives don't have shift cables in the drives.

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

I was told, by the previous owner, the cable had broken off, inside the unit. Today, I found out, upon further investigation. the cable had broken off the end at the "shifting yoke" - not inside the unit. let me try to make this a bit clearer. Here is a picture of the broken end of the cable. - - The out drive is a 140 hp Alpha One Gen 1 MC Srial # 5131382, and on the far right side of the tag, across from the serial # are the numbers 79 - - Her is my problem (so far) I can't seem to get the shift cable to move. In, or out. AND as you can see in this photo. the out drive won't come any further from the gimble, than this. - - The tilt rams are disconnected, I've tried lifting the out drive up (by hand without the rams) while pulling on it. I have turned the unit to both right, and left, while pulling on it. I can't move the shift cable (I think it may be stuck inside it's sheath, maybe rust) so I don't know if it's in forward, neutral, or reverse. If I can't get this off of the gimble, I can't change the cable, or find out whether the gears are stuck, or pretty much anything. Any ideas? I could sure use some help. I'll take more photos, if anyone needs them - J.P.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Here is what you can do:
1. Look up underneath the fwd part of the drive right under the bell housing (see photo below for example) and you will see the shift shaft "shoe" engaged in the upper shift shaft. That has to be pointed straight forward to pull the whole drive off. If it is not, and you can turn it by hand (or with an open end wrench) (be sure to rotate your prop CCW while trying to engage in FWD to make it easier, and to tell you when you are in fact in FWD), then you can get it in FWD gear to remove the drive.
2. -OR- You can drain the oil and split the drive and remove the bottom first. It doesn't matter what gear you are in to do that.
3. After the bottom half is off, you can attack getting the top half off. Should be easier all the way around. Let us know the results of either 1 or 2, and if 3 isnt working, we can come up with more tips (like hooking up your trim rams, using a block of wood at the top to bear against, and using the trim rams to get the top half off. Remember...once you have the bottom half off, it doesn't matter what gear you are in... The upper will come out!

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Thank you, thank you! I will try #1 first, and the other remedy, after that. I'll be back with more pics, of the progress - J.P.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

I edited my post after you posted...so go back and look again (photo added, plus extra words)

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Well... Thanks for the photos! Thanks for the tip on turning the prop CCW to get it in FWD. It worked great! Unfortunately, I forgot a couple of major items - Like disconnecting the driveshaft bellows, and the water hose (DOH!) - The rest of the story, so far (I finally quit, for the night) is: when I cut the driveshaft bellows, I found major corrosion on the u-joint, and nasty sludge junk, around the bearing (I guess there's a bearing there) where the driveshaft goes through the transom. I will try to pull the drive, again in the morning, however now I am concerned that the driveshaft is corroded into the transom mount, and seized there. No wonder I/O mechanics get paid well, They must see this kind of stuff all of the time. I'll shoot some more pics, in the morning, and post them. I really don't think anyone will like this one! OR, you guys will have one heck of a laugh, on me! Even if I have to buy another I/O it'll be OK, I just want this critter ready to go by spring. - Sheesh!

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

I forgot a couple of major items - Like disconnecting the driveshaft bellows, and the water hose (DOH!) - The rest of the story, so far (I finally quit, for the night) is: when I cut the driveshaft bellows,

Ok...I must be missing something here.... Why did you feel you needed to disconnect the driveshaft bellows, or worse yet had to "cut" it? and what about the water hose???? Just how are you removing this drive? OD removal is as simple as removing a few nuts, disconnecting rams, and then sliding the thing out of its hole. Everything else stays put.

What manual instructions are you following?

Yes...definitely upload more photos.... This I gotta see!!!

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Sounds like your removing the bellhousing while the drive is still attached. To remove the drive, place in forward, disconnect the trim rams, and then the 6-nuts:

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

I followed the steps just like the video, to begin with. The bellows are all rotten, and need to be replaced, anyway, and I wanted to get a look at where the drive shaft goes through the transom. When I cut into the bellows, sure enough, a bunch of rust, goo, and sludge, ran out of the cut. There is a LOT of rust on the U-Joint (if you will) and the drive shaft. The out drive does not separate from the gimble more than about 1/8", and there is no movement, or play. Yes, I have the shifter lever in forward. I am hoping, the shaft hasn't rusted into the gimble bearing, or where the shaft passes through the transom, or both. I will clean up the area where the driveshaft goes through the transom, and shoot some more photos, this morning. If it IS rusted to the gimble bearing... then what???

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Sounds like it is time for gool ol' PB Blaster penetrant spray. You are definitely into bellows (all of them), gimbal bearing and U-joint replacement, as well as whatever you find wrong with the drive itself (and there's shift cable issues,too). I would spray PB Blaster into the gimbal bearing where the yoke shaft passes through, on both sides (bell housing side and engine side). Give it time to do its job, then start tugging and working it out.
Have you considered removing the bottom half of the outdrive first? It would make getting the rest off that much easier for you.
Best of luck!!

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Yep - Took off the lower unit, a couple of days ago. Got the PB Blaster, and have been spraying both, where it goes through the bearing at the transom, and where it goes through the gimbal bearing. Still hung up. I am definitely not getting it, so far. It has moved MAYBE 1/4". What about using a 2x4 and seeing if the rams will get it loose?

 

[duped]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

You shouldn't even need to use the rams, unbolt them. Wedge a 2x4 between the top cap of the outdrive, and the gimbal ring. Then lift. It should squeeze the drive off. I've done this successfully to drives that have been on for 20 years with no problem.

 

[jpstude]

Re: remove a shift cable from an Alpha One Gen 1 out drive

Thanks, duped... will try it.