shift linkage nightmare

[suparslinc]

I cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong here. I've read through the service manual and adjusted the copper barrel and linkage to where it's supposed to be, shift it into gear and it goes fine the first time, try it again and the microswitch rides up on the cam and stays there, killing the engine. I'm really out of ideas (again, I followed the manual) and we've been chasing our tails trying to solve it. We can adjust it so it will go into reverse but then not forward, or forward but not reverse.

I'm just hoping somebody on here has had a similar problem but I have no idea whats going on at this point. The only other possible thing is a kinked or binded cable.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

If your doing this on land and the switch activates it`s a sign of a bad shift cable or corroded shift components.

 

[Don S]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

What are you working on?

 

[suparslinc]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

The shift cable activates a microswitch that temporarily cuts the engine while the drive engages. Well instead of temporarily cutting the engine it's killing it. I'm working on a mercruiser 305 v8 with an alpha one outdrive.

 

[Don S]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

The shift cable activates a microswitch that temporarily cuts the engine while the drive engages.

Bull Hockey!!!! There is no Microswitch that cuts power while the drive engages.
There is a shift interrupt switch that is used to cut power to make the engine hesitate for a split second to allow the reverse cut clutch dogs and gears release due to the lessening of power. But it IS NOT used for putting the drive into gear.
If the shift interrupt switch is being engaged when putting the drive into gear, then you need a shift cable, or the linkage and shift shafts in the bellhousing or drive are binding big time.

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

try this link...

http://www.mercstuff.com/images/shiftcable.jpg

be patient and have a friend help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

I cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong here. I've read through the service manual and adjusted the copper barrel and linkage to where it's supposed to be, shift it into gear and it goes fine the first time, try it again and the microswitch rides up on the cam and stays there, killing the engine. I'm really out of ideas (again, I followed the manual) and we've been chasing our tails trying to solve it. We can adjust it so it will go into reverse but then not forward, or forward but not reverse.

Ayuh,.....

Replace the Lower Shift Cable,+ your problems will go Away.....

 

[suparslinc]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

I'm thinking thats the next step. The barrel is adjusted correctly, now what we are running into (and have been along) is either the switch does nothing and the gears grind or it runs all the way up the cam and stays there, shutting the engine down. I'm no marine mechanic but I bet letting it thunk into gear like this is pretty hard on the internals.

 

[JustJason]

Re: shift linkage nightmare

the arm on the switch is riding up and sticking because the lower cable is dragging... and bad.