shift cable question

[boatruptcy]

2000 baja w bravo one, the shifting is hard both forward and reverse. i took off control cable from shifter to motor and it shifts fine, so i know the problem is either the cable to outdrive or maybe adjustment. my question is, there is a tabbed bolt that fits under the pivot arm and when i loosen this a little it allows for an easier shift letting the arm move in the slide better. will this harm anything by loosening, i.e. will it eventually rattle off? there are two locking nuts on the top side of the pivot arm so i am nervous about leaving it a little loose. or am i just putting a band aid on a bigger problem, maybe the cable is bad, but i dont know how to test if thats the problem. i read the service manual and it simply says adjust and lubricate. thanks in advance.

 

[Bondo]

Re: shift cable question

there is a tabbed bolt that fits under the pivot arm and when i loosen this a little it allows for an easier shift letting the arm move in the slide better. will this harm anything by loosening,

Ayuh,.... Got a Picture of what you're talkin' about,..??
Most of those connections use Ny-lock nuts, to they can allow movement of the linkage, without the nut falling off...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: shift cable question

Using page 3A-4 ,what part are you talking about?
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/11/11a3r5x.pdf

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

ill go get a pic today. the bolt im talking about is brass or brass colored i guess and is on the underside of the pivot arm on top of the port cylinder head, not on the lower unit. there are two nylon locking nuts on top of the arm, but the tabbed bolt goes under it and is what actually attaches the lower shift cable to the arm. ill post some pics shortly, thanks for your help guys.

 

[Don S]

Re: shift cable question

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

this is a pic of the nut, it goes under the bracket in next pic

this is a pic of how the cable sits in the pivot arm, notice there is alot of adjustment here, thats what i was wondering because if i loosen the aforementioned nut a little it allows it to move better, however, it could be wasted movement, i.e. the arm is moving but it is not actually pushing the cable as much. also when i took this off, the lower shift cable was at the bottom of the rail as in the next pic.

this is where i have pulled the cable out of the pivot arm, there is alot of room to move it, about an inch or so.
i did notice it was very hard to shift this cable by hand, maybe thats my real problem??? how big a job is it to replace this cable? i think i have to remove lu obviously, but anything else like bellows? thanks alot

 

[Bondo]

Re: shift cable question

my question is, there is a tabbed bolt that fits under the pivot arm and when i loosen this a little it allows for an easier shift letting the arm move in the slide better. will this harm anything by loosening, i.e. will it eventually rattle off?

Nope,...
That little flat retained nut(1st pic) is apart of the cable adjustment,+ it should Lock the stud into the alignment slot...

Head on up to the Adults Only section of this forum,...
In there you can download the factory manual for your drive,...
All your current,+ most of your future questions are easily answered in the Manual....

If that lower cable is older, or had water intrusion issues,... Replacing it otta be done,...
It ain't that bad of a job...

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

im sure its the original cable, ten years old now, i downloaded the manual, i guess ill give her a try and see if i can get it replaced, sucks i just replaced the drive oil when i put her up at the end of the season, thanks fellers

 

[Don S]

Re: shift cable question

You don't have to drain the gear lube to replace the cable.

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

so if im reading the manual correctly, i just need to remove the sterndrive, lossen the clamps pull the old cable out and slide new cable in, obviously im summing this up, but apparently no specialty tools are needed. a couple hour job probably?

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

i almost forgot, isnt the world ending in 2012? wonder if it could hold out until then

 

[Don S]

Re: shift cable question

Most of the time, they aren't bad to change. Save yourself some problems, and get the special tool shown in manual 28, It's part number 91-12427 shown on page 2A-37.
Makes the job so much easier to do and get to work the first time. Plus, it costs less than 10 bucks.

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

thanks don, good to know. approaching 30,000 posts, the letters worn off your keys yet? i wish you were my next door neighbor, happy new year to you.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: shift cable question

thanks don, ....i wish you were my next door neighbor, happy new year to you.

I don't know... he gets kinda grumpy sometimes.



Just kiddin'! Happy New Year to you all.

 

[cr2k]

Re: shift cable question

Just don't forget to check your drive alignment before you go back on.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: shift cable question

Hi, I just thought I should let you know that Bond-o May have told you the right way to fix your problem by saying, [Most of those connections use Ny-lock nuts, so they can allow movement of the linkage, without the nut falling off...]

And from what I can see in your photo with out being there, It looks like the nut is to tight that holds the cable on to the stud. It will be the nut on Number 1 right next to the arrow of don's post? If that nut is to tight then it could make it much harder to shift, Also because you have a bravo 1 drive that drive is pretty hard to shift if the engine is not running or if the prop is not spinning when the engine is off.

But that stud needs to be tight and in the right spot.

You might want to rehook everything back up to where it was and back that nut off a bit and start the engine and shift it one more time to see if that helps. Good luck with it.

 

[boatruptcy]

Re: shift cable question

thanks, that would be great if it fixes it, ill try it, however, it did seem hard to push by hand in and out when i unhooked it from the arm, but i will def. try your fix first. take care.