Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

[CCman1]

I have a 1994 Chris Craft Concept with a 5.litre OMC(Ford) and Cobra Outdrive. I am having a problem with the Shift Control System. The problem is when I shift from forward back into neutral the outdrive is still engaged in forward gear. I have followed all of the directions in the Cobra Service Manual (the factory manual). I have adjusted the Center shift stroke. I have adjusted the the linkage all the way out but it still doesn't seem to want to disengage into neutral. Here is the rally strange thing, when I do pull the shift lever back to the neutral detent position and then shut off the engine, I restart the engine back up the stern drive comes back up in neutral? Very strange. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BigBK]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Just had same problem on my 5.7 L merc and it was the shift interupt switch, it had gone bad. infact how i found it was i put the drive in forward, hit the key and it started..... Bob

 

[CCman1]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Thanks for your info. I figured that since it went into neutral only after I turned it off it had to be a bad switch or relay. Now I have to find where I can get the right switch? Thanks..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Its not going to be the switch. Its going to be your lower shift cable.

 

[CCman1]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Can you give me more info on why you think it is the lower cable? One thing I did fail to mention is when I shift from reverse into neutral I have no problem? The stern drive goes into neutral as it should. It only happens when I shift from forward to neutral. Like I said in my orginal note I did go through all of the adjustments as stated in the service manual and the shift lever attached to the engine is in the neutal detent position. That is why I figured it must be the switch. Any advise or suggestions is welcome.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

In one direction its pushing and the other direction its pulling. Whenever mine failed it was always when you put it in forward. I replaced mine 4 times over the time I had my boat. needless to say, I got pretty good at knowing waht was happening over time.

Take a look at the housing of the shift cable as it enters the upper gear housing with the drive tilted up and see what the cable housing looks like. That is where they often fail.

Another possible issue is that your control at your helm is sloppy and there is "lost motion" As the controlers age, you get less throw. Make sure the shift cable from the control back to the engine is well supported. I ziptied mine every foot or so to keep its movement to a minimum. That definitely helps.

And BigBK's description wasn't even for a shift interrupt switch. He was describing the neutral safety switch!

 

[BigBK]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Shift Interrupter Switches
Pre-Alpha, Alpha One and Alpha Gen II engines use a Shift Interrupter Switch.
This switch allows the drive to shift back into neutral with less effort.
If the switch is defective or disconnected it will be very difficult to get neutral.
If the shift cable is bad, it can cause the switch to "over-activate" and stall the engine when you shift.

The older original switches used a metal fulcrum lever with a roller on the end.
These switches are no longer in production.

Seems Shift Interupt switch an the Neutral safety swich may be one in the same

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Seems Shift Interupt switch an the Neutral safety swich may be one in the same

Not on a Cobra they aren't and they aren't on Mercruisers either. The function of the neutral safety switch is to prevent the starter from activating.

 

[BigBK]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Not on a Cobra they aren't and they aren't on Mercruisers either. The function of the neutral safety switch is to prevent the starter from activating.

Bruce,
You are correct my neut safety switch is in the shift controls at the helm.
But the inturpt switch was what i was refering to and needed replacing. On mine.

 

[CCman1]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

One last question, given outdrive does come up in neutral after shutting off and restarting the engine would that rule out a cable problem?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

No..it would not. It means that the cable wasn't able to quite pull it out of the dog clutch and by turning off the engine, the force holding the gears together was relaxed. Your cable has a lot of slop and isn't firmly pulling on the shift fork. Like I said before, cable housing that fails will cause this.

Did you happen to tilt up the drive and examine the cable housing yet?

 

[CCman1]

Re: Shift Control acting up on my Chris Craft/OMC

Got it. No, I will not have access to the boat until this weekend. Will definitely take a look at that cable. Thanks!