ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

TSHELNUTT

Recruit
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
4
I have a brand new 2003 21'boat, 350 MAG MPI, 300HP Alpha 1 drive. Shifting is very primitive, not like the omc I wish I had back. When you come out of gear to neutral the engine stumbles for 1-2 seconds and sometimes dies. This boat has the new smartcraft ECM 555 computer on it. It has been to the dealer now 9 times and they have changed 3 computers, 2 control box's, 2 remote shift cables, 3 shift interrupt springs and all adjustments.It is still the same!!!! The only thing left is pulling the drive and looking at the intermediate cable or drive unit itself. Anyone heard of this??????
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

hello<br /> yes unfortunatly I have seen something like this. with the drive off and the lower shift cable disconnected from the shift assy hold the cable end between your thumb and fore finger. it should slide with almost no resistence the entire lenth of travel. I have seen 3 boats in the past year that had burned or pinched cables from improper assembly or rigging practices.good luck and after all the other stuff its not much to pull a drive and inspect the cable and linkage for binding.
 

lorax

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 3, 2002
Messages
134
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

I have to agree with High Chaparral. What's the deal with a shift mechanism that requires the engine to be shut down momentarily in order for the thing to find neutral?<br />What’s really amazing, to me, is that Mercury is still using the same basic approach on a model year 03 outdrive. Surely customers have been griping about this for a long time.
 

loadnet

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 27, 2003
Messages
225
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

Whew! - I'll be honest with you..<br /><br />The items I was thinking it was were already mentioned so I cant't really add anything new - but to convince you that we all really do feel the pain and suffering you're going through,...I've decided to place my thmub on a vise, and smack it with a small sledge hammer. (twice)<br /><br />I would have smacked my index finger but I need that one to pick my nose, when my other index finger is stuck in my other nostral.<br /><br />Just trying to cheer you up a bit..<br />I sure hope you find the culprit to this problem soon.<br /><br />PB customerservice@401hosting.com
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,285
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

It's a Boat.......<br />Do you Shift it Briskly ????????<br />rodbolt is Probably Right.... I'd have pulled the drive on the 2nd or 3rd go-around......<br />As far as
"Shifting is very primitive, not like the omc I wish I had back."
The ONLY Good Idea OMC had was copying the Volvo.......<br />JUST Before they Went Under......<br /><br />
When you come out of gear to neutral the engine stumbles for 1-2 seconds and sometimes dies.
This comment leads me to believe that you may not be shifting Briskly .....<br />When Done Right, the Stumble in the motor Isn't Even Noticable.......<br /><br />lorax,<br />
What's the deal with a shift mechanism that requires the engine to be shut down momentarily in order for the thing to find neutral?<br />
OMCs had to do That going In,+ Out of Gear......<br />Merc.s are Only coming out of Gear....
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

hello<br /> the shift interupt on both the omc and the mercusier as well as yamaha and omc and some v-6 mercs has to do with the 5-7 degrees of backdraft angle cut into the engagement lugs on the shift clutch and gears.with no way to reduce the load on the propshaft, momentarily. it is all but impossible to move from any ingear position to neutral. dont baby the shifter. it is designed as a slam shift engagement. but if the cables get tight it triggers the cut out and holds it a bit to long.<br />OMC tried an ESA module that interrupted spark on part of the cylinders and not just cutting all of them. it worked ok I guess. at least they placed an overstroke swith so even if it was misadjusted it would still run in gear.<br /> keep us posted as to what you find.<br /> Good luck
 

flashback

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
4,040
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

gotta go with rodbolt and bondo on this, when the gears are in, they are in. got to remember there is no clutch on a boat and always a load.. the interupt switch has always been a bit of a problem but its the best way to take a direct drive and change direction.......I don't know any thing about this computer stuff on your boat, mine just has a switch with a roller actuator that rubs on a cam on the shift arm......works great 99% of the time........just shift a little faster and see what happens...........
 

lorax

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 3, 2002
Messages
134
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

Didn't mean to attack anybody - with the possible exception of the Merc engineering staff. Until recently I was using a OMC outboard and before that a Merc Outboard. I never had anywhere near the headaches with either engine, at least as far as shifting.<br />Seems like for what their getting for one of these outdrives it would be possible to come up with a more sophisticated shifting mechanism.
 

Doug Durako

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
519
Re: ALPHA 1 SHIFT PROBLEMS

The old 76 Mercruiser I used to have was a simple chrome handle that shifted like a dream with just a brisk push with the palm of your hand.<br /><br />Unfortunately, those had no lockout between forward and reverse and beginners could do some real damage if they got nervous at the dock.<br /><br />So, the big improvement from Mercury is the black plastic handle you have to grab like you are roping a cow and shove hard.<br /><br />Is your idle rpm set too high?----mine works much better after I lowered it to about 650. It came from the factory at closer to 1000 when in idle/neutral.
 
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