Alpha 1 lower shift cable adjustment question

[CableGuy1978]

Hello,

I have replaced my lower shift cable along with a bellows job. I was having some issues with the adjustment, and was unable to find the document I had used a few years back for that procedure. I did however see achris' video on Youtube. Following it exactly, and taking the necessary measurements, chalking the prop as well, I have it adjusted to what I believe is perfect - out of the water. All measurements and allowances are within spec. I did have some issue with the reverse gear meshing, but the small adjustment on the slider pin at the end of the lower shift cable on the shift plate seemed to remedy that.

Where I am at now, in forward gear the prop locks when trying to turn it CCW by hand, and in reverse it locks the other way when turning it by hand. Neutral prop spins freely as well, with no clicking. I didn't put a ton of force on the prop to see if it would slip out when in gear. I have yet to put it int he water and try it under a proper load. After adjusting the cable out of the water, and having the measurements all within spec, how likely is it that further adjustment will be needed? This assuming of course that the drive itself doesn't have any excessive wear. If further adjustment is needed what is the best way to go about it? Since it was set up in forward gear I would imagine that if there is an issue it will be with reverse gear. Figured best to ask the pros instead of wasting time with improper adjustments..

Thanks once again for any advice, and thanks as well to achris for the detailed youtube video.

Jason

 

[dubs283]

Re: Alpha 1 lower shift cable adjustment question

if you have any issues, yes it will be most likey with going into rev gear

any issues with rev gear, if you have any adjustment left in the slot, move it slightly further up until the shift into rev is good

otherwise you will have to adjust the remote shift cable to aid in shifting - do not change any adjustment on the drive shift cable trunion, once that is set at 6" in fwd gear you're done with that cable, all other adjustments should be done with the slot or the remote cable

 

[Augoose]

Re: Alpha 1 lower shift cable adjustment question

disregard...

 

[CableGuy1978]

Re: Alpha 1 lower shift cable adjustment question

if you have any issues, yes it will be most likey with going into rev gear

any issues with rev gear, if you have any adjustment left in the slot, move it slightly further up until the shift into rev is good

otherwise you will have to adjust the remote shift cable to aid in shifting - do not change any adjustment on the drive shift cable trunion, once that is set at 6" in fwd gear you're done with that cable, all other adjustments should be done with the slot or the remote cable

Right on, thank you for the tips! I'm hoping to get it in the water this weekend and see how it goes.

On a side note, what I did notice as this boat is new to me, was that the shift interrupter wiring was missing, no wire from the coil and no wire to ground. With the old cable and such it shifted fine into gear, and surprisingly never seemed to have any trouble coming out of gear, this was true for two different outdrives as well. My other boat used to have issues if I didn't have that switch hooked up. I rewired the switch on this boat now, and it does work properly now. But I can't figure out why they would have disconnected it, unless they had a bad lower cable at one time and it kept stalling the engine when coming out of gear.. All I know is from the past two outboards and two Mercruisers I have had experience with, I seem to find a lot of evidence of short cuts, and things not done to spec, even after being into marine shop as well.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice!

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha 1 lower shift cable adjustment question

..... All I know is from the past two outboards and two Mercruisers I have had experience with, I seem to find a lot of evidence of short cuts, and things not done to spec, even after being into marine shop as well.

Tell me about it!!! :facepalm:

That's one of the reasons I like this forum so much. People wanting to do the job right, and not take shortcuts or backyard hacks. (We've had a few on here trying to spruik nasty backyard hacks, and they get told pretty quickly.)

I think the biggest problem is 'mechanics' not actually understanding what they are doing, just 'doing it by the numbers'... Don't misunderstand that statement. I am very much 'by the book', but I understand what the book is telling me, and that way I can see things that are going to cause problems down the track... And so can rectify them before they become a problem....

Oh, your original question... Yeah, dubs pretty much covered that...

Chris.....

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha 1 lower shift cable adjustment question

I don't know why, but it double posted.... Don, if you read this, could you 'zap' it?.. Thanks....