Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

[Leedanger]

I replaced all the bellows and shift cable on my MC-1 outdrive, 1968 4cylinder 140HP, and now it seems the shift cable has no movement. The intermediate shift shaft coupling is aligned inside the shift shaft slot and the shift slide assembly was also correctly aligned with roller to the best of my knowledge. I did have to tap in the outdrive slightly at the end with a rubber mallet, but I don't feel it was anything out of the norm.

I'm certain the error is not in the remote, I even took the remote box apart and then disconnected control cables from the shift plate to be certain they were not the culprit. I was hoping maybe someone knows of a trick or an issue I overlooked to prevent me from restarting the whole process or if I do restart not repeating whatever error I have made.

Cheers

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

Ayuh,... No "Easy" button on that 1,..
If it worked before ya worked on it, 'n it Don't now,...
Start Over, 'n see where ya screwed up...

 

[Leedanger]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

I was just reading it the manual about the length of the core vs the length of the sheathing, I didn't do any cutting or adjustments to the cable before installing it. Could that be the problem? I don't see how that would not allow ANY movement, but I suppose it's something I need to revisit.

 

[Pete104]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

WRONG BOOK!
Stop don't cut anything!!!
Is the drive on or off?

 

[Leedanger]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

I haven't cut anything, I just took the drive off. Not sure where the problem lies at the moment. Gonna try again to remount, I'll just take my time and see how it goes.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

If it is the old style cable it has to be cut to length. If you had to hammer in your drive you need to check your alignment or waste a $300 coupler requiring engine removal to replace.

 

[Leedanger]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

If it is the old style cable it has to be cut to length. If you had to hammer in your drive you need to check your alignment or waste a $300 coupler requiring engine removal to replace.

Does someone have an image for the cable length dimensions? I'm pretty sure I have the right manual but now I'm second guessing everything. I wouldn't say "hammer" in the drive, it did take a few taps to get it seated, but as far as I can tell the coupler seems to be working properly. @ 12:00 the drive is in forward and brakes counter clockwise, 11:00 neutral, and 10:00 reverser braking at clockwise. I think that the slide tipped over just as I was closing up the drive and I just missed it.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

nevermind

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

I think that the slide tipped over just as I was closing up the drive and I just missed it.

That's why I finally bought the official Mercruiser tool pictured here (the orange thing ). It has made life much easier when putting the drive back on.

 

[Leedanger]

Re: Shift cable stuck after outdrive remount

That really is genius! Now that I have off and on'd more than a dozen outdrives I realize that tool is priceless.

Got it fixed, it just turned the slightest amount was all. Thanks all