shifter not moving...

[glennj3]

Good Evening,
My shifter has stopped moving forward and reverse. I removed them (cables) at the engine and they move freely with the handle.

I attempted to move the shift cable from the engine to the outdrive by hand, would not move.

Looking under the outdrive at the shift shaft connection, I can not move anything there by hand or tool.

The prop is in neutral and moves freely.

Questions, do I have to remove the lower uniout drive outdrive in order to really see if thecableter calbe vs something else is jammeout drive outdrive portion?

Thanks for advice.

Glenn

 

[boatguya1]

Re: shifter not moving...

You need to remove the drive and see if it's the drive or the cable.

 

[84EdH]

Re: shifter not moving...

Glenn, you should post the engine type and year, and the outdrive type and year and serial numbers if you know them. you will get a lot better answers to your problem. hope this helps!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: shifter not moving...

did you suffer an overheat ? you may have melted the shift cable solid.

 

[glennj3]

Re: shifter not moving...

No, did not overheat, my profile has the boat information, guess it would help though to list the information again.

170 Mercruiser, 1988, Sea Ray, Seville mid cabin cruiser.

I think that would be the Alpha I outdrive.

May just start pulling the lower portion of the outdrive off today and check it out.

Glenn

 

[Don S]

Re: shifter not moving...

Before you start pulling the drive, disconnect the lower shift cable from the shift plate on the engine, then see if you can move the lever. May be the cable from the control to the engine.
Also see if you can shift gears by pushing and pulling the shift cable while off the shift plate.

 

[glennj3]

Re: shifter not moving...

I just read my initial thread, I must have used spell check, crazy what was posted. I could not understand it myself.
Just for clarification I edited it.
I did remove the shift cable at the engine, could not move it by hand (the one to the outdrive). I could not move it at the outdrive shift shaft either.

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[series60]

Re: shifter not moving...

No, did not overheat, my profile has the boat information, guess it would help though to list the information again.

170 Mercruiser, 1988, Sea Ray, Seville mid cabin cruiser.

I think that would be the Alpha I outdrive.

May just start pulling the lower portion of the outdrive off today and check it out.

Glenn

Glenn, it would be a good idea to put this in your signature file:
1988 Sea Ray (model)
170 Mercruiser Alpha I

 

[glennj3]

Re: shifter not moving...

Don't know what a signature file is??

 

[series60]

Re: shifter not moving...

Don't know what a signature file is??

Login to your account
click 'Settings' top right of screen
Next window scroll down on left side to 'Edit Signature'
Fill in info in the 'Edit Signature' box
Click 'Save Signature'
Done

 

[boatguya1]

Re: shifter not moving...

Don't know what a signature file is??

I had no problem understanding the OP, and my advice still stands, you need to pull the drive. My guess is that no amount of tweaking your signature file is going to fix your boat.

 

[glennj3]

Re: shifter not moving...

You are correct no doubt! All the same, I cracked the lower out drive enough, was able to jimmy lose the shift shaft at the cable connection. It was lose at the engine end so I could move the shifter back ond forth on the outdrive.
I tightend up the lower unit and began working on the adjustments.
Alone, I did a lot of jumping out and back in the boat. I never could get the prop to stop while in reverse, forward worked all the time.
I can release the cable at the engine and shove the cable all the way either direction, can not get her to go into reverse.

Don't see how it could have slipped at the outdrive but maybe I need to remove the lower outdrive and set everything up again and replace the lower outdrive again? Otherwise maybe need to replace some cables?

PS, My shop manual is missing page417 & 418, just the one I need for some of this!


Thanks,

Glenn

 

[boatguya1]

Re: shifter not moving...

You are correct no doubt! All the same, I cracked the lower out drive enough, was able to jimmy lose the shift shaft at the cable connection. It was lose at the engine end so I could move the shifter back ond forth on the outdrive.
I tightend up the lower unit and began working on the adjustments.
Alone, I did a lot of jumping out and back in the boat. I never could get the prop to stop while in reverse, forward worked all the time.
I can release the cable at the engine and shove the cable all the way either direction, can not get her to go into reverse.

Don't see how it could have slipped at the outdrive but maybe I need to remove the lower outdrive and set everything up again and replace the lower outdrive again? Otherwise maybe need to replace some cables?

PS, My shop manual is missing page417 & 418, just the one I need for some of this!


Thanks,

Glenn

If it were me I'd remove the whole drive and check the lower cable and the shift hardware for freedom of movement. Also check that you can shift the drive into fwd and rev while removed. Don't be hesitant to remove the drive, it's not a big deal and should be done regularly to inspect all the stuff you can't see with it on.

You may have gotten off a tooth on the shift shaft spline in the lower when you split the drive. If you have to go there it would be an excellent time to do your impeller. If you don't have to go there atleast pressure check your drive since you split it.

 

[glennj3]

Re: shifter not moving...

As much as I enjoye working and repairting things, sometimes the job is just too big and time consuming for me. I have pulled the outdrive before and I have gotten it back in, but the last time, I could not get it back in. Just don't have the equipment or help. Must be a two man job if you don't have the lift for the outdrive!
Guess this is a good time of year to use the old mechanic again.
Thanks everyone for you time and help.

Glenn