Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

[crazy charlie]

I installed my recently serviced alpha drive today and when I ran the engine ,reverse engaged fine,pushed the shifter forward and the drive did not engage.The shift lever just kept going forward until the engine revved higher.When I installed the drive the shift lever was in full fwd and the drive was locked into fwd.I am guessing that I knocked the drive out of fwd while installing it.If that were the case ,would I have reverse and nothing else??? Any suggestions where to start.I have installed my drive many many times before w/o a problem.1988 mercruiser 5.0 xl with alpha drives.Any suggestions are appreciated.Charlie

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

I am guessing that I knocked the drive out of fwd while installing it.

Ayuh,... Sorry Charlie,.. That's My guess too....
If it popped out, you'll have Neutral, reverse,+ more reverse... No forward...

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Thanks Bondo.I hope thats what it is.I had the drive fully serviced and i was thinking that my mech.put the drive back together w/o having the lower in fwd.(I have done that twice before) but the shifter would not go forward at all if that were the case.I can blame my wife for this one.She was holding the end of the shift cable steady while I was putting on the drive.She decided to wear a low cut shirt that day and I was watching her cleavage when I should have been watching the prop.Charlie

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Possably the roller slipped out of the slide ?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

I can blame my wife for this one.She was holding the end of the shift cable steady while I was putting on the drive.She decided to wear a low cut shirt that day and I was watching her cleavage when I should have been watching the prop.

Ayuh,.... How long ya be married Charlie,..?? I guess it's a danm Good thing you're still Starrin',...

If the outdrive/ shift connection looks Good,...(The foot in the shoe)
Maybe you can drop Just the lower to realign it,..??
'course,... I don't think you could tell if the slide,+ roller are aligned,..??

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

I will pull the drive and reinstall it.I will make sure my wife wears a turtleneck so I dont get distracted again.I will be married 20 years next month Bondo.Cant help starrin !!! I got lucky and married my dream girl.A Heather Locklear look a like with better curves and still looks the same as the day I married her.If only she was Mercruiser certified....imagine....

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Possably the roller slipped out of the slide ?

That is exactly what I did, reverse OK, no forward. Pulled the drive. put it back together right, fine now.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Pulled drive off enough to check shift cable and lock drive into fwd and put back on and it locked into fwd fine but lost fwd again as soon as I shifted the throttle.pulled the drive several times AND i LOST FWD EACH TIME AS SOON AS i SHIFTED THE THROTTLE from fwd to rev (which locked in ) and back to fwd and nothing.I am going to pull the drive and replace with a another that I have just to isolate if it is the drive or not.the only thing that has changed from last year is the drive.I used the freshly serviced spare this year.Charlie

 

[JustJason]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

when was the last time the shift cable was replaced and or is it properly adjusted?
You should be able to just drop the lower and while turning the driveshaft clockwise, shift into fwd N and rev by hand or with a pair of pliers.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Thanks JJ,that was my 2nd option.To drop the lower unit a few inches and make sure the lower was fully locked into fwd.I guess it could be off a notch.Throwing the other drive on it just seemed a quicker way to isolate the problem.Charlie

 

[JustJason]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

I guess it could be off a notch

Yep... that's all you have to be off by. If your going to use the bungee cord trick make sure you are turning the driveshaft while shifting before you pull it tight. You want to make sure the clutch is fully engaged, not partially just enough to make the prop spin.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Wish me luck!! I am heading over to the boat with a different drive to try.Charlie

 

[JustJason]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Good luck Charlie!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Good luck Charlie!!

Ayuh,...

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Alpha drive not shifting into fwd

Just got back.Looks like the problem was the drive.I put a different drive on and it locked into fwd and stayed though I was not able to run it to be sure because it was drained of lube.I may also need a slight adjustment of the cable because I was able to turn the prop c-clockwise using some force.I dont know if that may have had to do with having no lube in it.I noticed that on the problem drive ,the shift arm was not staright when locked into fwd.I think that when my mech put the drive back together after servicing it,he had the shift arm off to the side slightly instead of straight.Hope I am right.I plan on dropping the lower just enough to get in there to tweak that little spindle that ultimately goes inside the shift arm.Charlie