Shifting Problems.....

[neverenough66]

I am having the same problem as a similar member (Capthook) had posted back in Aug 06. We own a 1988 SeaRay Sundancer 270 and when I move the shifter while the boat is not running, it moves smooth. However, when we are running (especially trying to doc), the shifter seems to bind up when changing gears.
We were going to try to adjust the shifter cables, but can't seem to get them both at 6" like the manual says. Are we doing something wrong?
Do you think it is the cut out switch/bad cables, etc...?
Any knowledge anyone has with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

I am having the same problem as a similar member (Capthook) had posted back in Aug 06. We own a 1988 SeaRay Sundancer 270 and when I move the shifter while the boat is not running, it moves smooth. However, when we are running (especially trying to doc), the shifter seems to bind up when changing gears.
We were going to try to adjust the shifter cables, but can't seem to get them both at 6" like the manual says. Are we doing something wrong?
Do you think it is the cut out switch/bad cables, etc...?
Any knowledge anyone has with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Probably a bad shifter cable.......
However, you can test the shift interrupt switch by engaging it & see if it kills the engine....
If not you will need to test further with a DVM.....
The measurement you are looking for is 6" from the center of the 'barrel' nut to the center of the cable eye while locked in forward.....
Push the cable in & turn the prop ccw to lock in fwd........
The cables don't just go out of adjustment, they go bad.....

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

can we get an idea as to what drive you have ?

 

[neverenough66]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

Sorry about that. The boat has twin Mercruiser 4.3 V6's with Alpha one drives.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

Does it affect both engines or just one?.....
The above advice, I gave is foe Alpha 1.....​

 

[neverenough66]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

It seems to happen to both shifters.

 

[neverenough66]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

Any suggestions?
I don't see how it can be bad cables if they shift fine without the engines running? Wouldn't the cables be bad whether the boat is running or not?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Shifting Problems.....

No, there is no load when the engine is not running....
I will wager that it will shift with the engine running while on the muffs......
But it won't in the water, because there is load on the gears......
I'll go one further to say that it has no problem shifting into gear, but doesa not want to come out without either the engine stalling or you have to shut it down to get back to neutral.....
If the cables are more than 7 years old or so, they need to be replaced....​