Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

[ClassyGlassy]

Hey guys,

my boat project is put together and I floated the boat for the first time yesterday. However, it will shift into FWD gear nicely with no pressure but clicks going into REV gear. I have to go about halfway to get REV to engage!

I know that I need to adjust the barrel on the cable to get it synch'd up right. There is a complete procedure for synch'ing the throttle/spark adv in my book but I don't have a procedure for setting the shift cable.

What is the procedure out of the water?

I put the controls to WOT and rotate the prop and it slightly ratchets to the right and stops to the left.

I put the controls to full REV and it won't spin either direction.

Put the controls in Neutral and it ratchets either way.

Should it spin freely to the right in FWD and stop to the left, spin freely to the left in REV and stop to the right, and spin freely both directions in Neutral? All of this with NO ratcheting?

Thanks.......

'76 Merc 1500 L6

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

Prop should rachet CW when in forward. Prop should spin free in neutral and move 1/4 turn in either direction in reverse.

To set shift cable. First disconnect throttle and shift cables. Make sure motor is
"clicked" into neutral, and shift slider is centered on slider. Gearcase will stay in neutral w/o any play. If you have play, something is wrong.

Set MerControl to neutral, again it "clicks" in. Now adjust barrel nut to allow shifter to engage clamp and shift slide.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

Thanks Chris,

it acts exactly as you've listed now! Here's another question for ya. When in Neutral, something is banging ever so lightly and sounds like a bearing or gear trying to engage. I'm worried something might be coming apart in the lower unit. I've checked all the pictures of the mechanics of this lower unit and I don't really see what could be causing this other then something being misaligned or a bearing going out. How does the shift lever engage it to FWD or REV? Could it be out of adjustment enough to allow it to try to engage it into gear? I have NO shops or mechanics locally that will work on this old of motor. I'm stuck with having to deal with this myself and without any "special" tools to tear it apart.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

If the gearcase makes noise when it is on the neutral detent, it is likely something serious. Are you sure it is the gearcase? I have had the distributor pully get loose and rattle, as well as some other things get loose, and make various noises.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

I'm sure it's in the gearcase.......

I should probably start looking for a complete used lower unit? One that can be shipped to me by this Friday! What years and hp motors should I look for? Mine is a '76 Merc 1500.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

it feels like something rattling above the gearcase in the shaft going up to the motor. In FWD or REV gear it doesn't seem to make any noise or vibration at all......ONLY in Neutral. I'm stumped.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

OK.....so I took down the lower unit. Very little oil came out! I should have drained and filled it before I tested it.......I only loosened the drain plug to see if there was oil after install. I feel like an idiot now!

I think I'm safe though as everything shifts into gear and doesn't make the noise while in gear. I'm assuming bearings for the driveshaft. So I've removed the waterpump housing/impeller and pump base and I can touch the shaft tapered bearing. It isn't nuclear, in pieces, and the shaft doesn't wobble. So I'm thinking its a noise because of the low/no oil issue. There isn't anything else that would be making this noise in neutral. It has to be this bearing. So I'm going to replace the impeller and pump housing gaskets, reinstall the lower unit, fill it up with the proper Mercury gear oil, and run it at idle with the hose/muffs again to see if it changes.

If everything seems better I'm going to drop it into a tank tomorrow and attempt to Link/Sync this sucker. I'll post what I find.

 

[jlams73]

Re: Shift Cable adjustment on Merc 1500

Any update? I have same sound in neutral and have already replaced the gear oil and no change.