Alpha one shifting problems

[moparlewellen]

I have a 1979 mercruiser 260. I just got the motor back in and a new sea pump installed. Everything was fine all day until I went to leave the lake and it had no forward gear. So I got home and adjusted it but it was maxed out. I replaced the cable today and now I can get forward gear but no reverse. I try to pull the cable manually and it seams its all the way out but nothing from the outdrive. Could it be an issue with the intermediate shift shaft from when I put it together? Or could something be broken in the lower?

 

[harringtondav]

When you say 'motor' do you mean you removed and installed your engine? If so, you may have forgotten a cotter key or lock nut on the shift cable connections. Recheck these.

 

[moparlewellen]

By motor i do mean the actual motor. Chevy 350, cracked block, and manifolds when i bought it. I did adjust the cable before the removal of the engine and did install the cotter pin and lock nut. I know for a fact i did because when i replaced the cable today i had to remove these.

Its just odd because before the shift cable replacement i could adjust it to go into either forward or reverse but not both on the same adjustment.

The boat did good for a total of 8 hours on the water but at the end of the second day i had lost forward completely without warning.

 

[harringtondav]

Make sure the upper and lower shift levers are coupled under the bell hsg.

The brass barrel nut on your new cable should be able to spin freely. Remove the lower shift cable and shift assist. Place the controller into FWD Push the lower cable rearward while holding the prop CCW until it locks. A bungee will hold it.

Make sure the lower cable anchor stud is in the bottom of the slot. Adjust the barrel nut until the cable just slips into place. Then remove it and spin the barrel nut rearward three more turns.

Place the control in neutral and reconnect the lower cable. Remove the bungee and recheck for FWD and REV engagement by prop lock each direction before the throttle cable moves.

Moving the barrel nut rearward advances the FWD engagement point, delays REV. Moving it forward advances REV, delays FWD.

If you still can't get both, raising the anchor stud will increase lower cable travel, but may cause your shift cutout Y plate to be over sensitive.

 

[moparlewellen]

Took the outdrive off again and looks like there was a piece of plastic stuck behind the clevis preventing it from sliding all the way agenst the bell housing. I now have it back together and I adjusted the cable per your instructions but I cannot get both gears to work. If I move the barrel towards the cable end it goes into forward but not reverse and if I move the barrel toward the stud end I can get reverse but no forward, just clicks. I did try sliding the stud toward the bow and it didnt seam to make a differance.

I'm thinking at this point that the problem might be with the shifter controls or cable. This is a 1979 apollo so those parts would be impossible to find unless they are half way universal.

 

[harringtondav]

Disconnect the helm cable and see if you can shift moving the shift plate lever by hand. If so you're probably right about the your helm controller being bad.

It may have developed enough slop to loose the travel needed.

After market controllers are available for a few hundred $.

 

[achris]

Click 'My Videos' link at the bottom of this post. You'll find a video on how to check for excess slip in the system and how to adjust the cable. (One video)

 

[moparlewellen]

Got the controlls off and it had a screw missing from where the cable hooks to. The braclet had a full 60 degrees or so of movement before the cable was pushed/pulled. I got it back together and was able to adjust it correctly. It now goes in both gears without issue! Thanks for the help guys