Mercruiser throttle/shift control hard to get into neutral...

[1lastweekend]

I have a 1981 Rinker 17ft witha Mercruiser 120HP I/O. Lately, when I am shifting into neutral from either forward or reverse, the shifter seems to have a hard time "finding" neutral. Sometimes I have to shift from forward past neutral into reverse, and then back into neutral to get it into neutral. It kind of feels like the detentes in the shifter have worn, is that something that is adjustable? Or could there be something else wrong? I did add an aftermarket electronic distributor and new coil last spring, thats the only work I have done recently to the engine. I thought I read somewhere about some relationship between the wires from the coil and the shifter, but I cant recall the details or find the article. I had to change some wires around to power the coil since I have a manual choke.

 

[alldodge]

Does the motor still stumble (shift interrupt) when going back in either direction to neutral?

 

[1lastweekend]

Does the motor still stumble (shift interrupt) when going back in either direction to neutral?

No it doesn't stumble, just doesn't want to go into neutral...Seems like its easy to go right past it into the other gear...

 

[1lastweekend]

Does the motor still stumble (shift interrupt) when going back in either direction to neutral?

No it doesn't stumble, just seems like it will go past neutral into the other gear...

 

[alldodge]

No it doesn't stumble, just doesn't want to go into neutral...Seems like its easy to go right past it into the other gear...

Your shift interrupter switch is not working

The switch should make the motor stumble so the dog clutch unloads and it can then be easily shifted. Without the switch working, its real hard to take out of gear. What sounds like is happening, your pulling hard and when the dog clutch does release it keeps going into the other direction

With the motor running move the switch to see if it stumbles.
If it does not stumble then there is a broken connection or bad switch
If it does stumble then it needs to be adjusted

 

[1lastweekend]

Your shift interrupter switch is not working


Thanks, I looked at some schematics, and I think I accidentally disconnected the wire that momentarily grounds out the ignition so the shift interrupter can do its job when I installed the Flamethrower coil last year. It has been doing this since I installed that coil, I will have to trace back and see what I did wrong...Was tough to get the coil powered correctly, the first couple sources I tried, the engine would keep running with the key on!