Shifter not clicking into neutral

[crazy charlie]

Hi guys.I have twin 1988 mercruiser 5.0 xl rwc with alpha drives.Recently my port shifter was stiff coming from fwd to neutral.When it went into neutral,it did not make the usual clickThe shifter does not have a name on it.Not a quicksilver.Starting has become an small issue since.I have to jiggle the shifter until it is in perfect position to turn the key.I am having it looked at in a few weeks.Should I assume the problem is in the shifter.Neutral/throttle still works fine when I pull the shift lever out to start it up.Charlie

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

Charlie: it sounds like your throttle/shifter cable has stretched and needs to be replaced. The usual culpit is the lower shifter cable. To test it, you need to disconnect the shifter cables one at a time on the engine. Then try working the shift lever. If it's still tight, it's the upper cable or the shifter itself which is bad. If it's OK, it's probably the lower cable which is bad. Try shifting the lower cable by hand. If it won't move, there's your problem. Unfortunately, the boat needs to be out of the water to replace the lower shifter cable. Hy

 

[Don S]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

Charlie, post a picture of your control if you can.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

I wil try Don.May take a while though I am on Long Island battening down the hatches.The shifter does not have a name on it.It has a black rounded housing and the levers pull out on each side to rev in neutral with the trim switch on the underside of each handle.Chrlie

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

Tried to send thisreply last night,guess it didnt go through.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

BTW,I had transom kits done on ,shift cable,all bellows,gimbal bearing,water tube.All are recent

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

Just a guess, but it sounds like it needs to have the internals lubed. Stiffness and the detent ball (or whatever) is not clicking in might mean some corrosion needs to be cleaned up. Just a guess

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

going to try some spray lube but from what I could see and feel,it looks new in there and seems to be greased well."Detent" thats the word I was looking for.Thanks.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

You might want to ensure your shift interrupt switch is working as well - and is engaging at the right time. That can mimic a stiff shifter if it is not engaging correctly.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

Hmmmm,that interesting.I will have a look.Thanks.Charlie

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

I confirmed that the problem is the shifter.I had a problem starting the stbd engine now.Port the other day.Took a lot of jiggling the shift handle around before the key would crank.Hope the shifter can be adjusted.Looks like a pricey part to replace being duals.Still working on posting a pic to identify it.Charlie

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Shifter not clicking into neutral

Anyone know if this is adjustable or should I start looking for a new dual shifter?? Charlie