Alpha se106 with engagement problems

[dw5500]

I'm new to the boating world and need some help. I recently acquired( no sea trial / I know,I know) an 87 4.3 mercruiser with an alpha drive(se106). Previous owner replaced shift bracket and lower cable. I'm not sure if its worked since the replacement. My initial problem is that it won't engage reverse when put in the water. No engagement and the engine died because of the interrupter switch. After some adjustments I was able to engage reverse once without stalling. Put it on the trailer. Went home did some research on the correct adjustment procedure and performed it. Removed lower shift cable at the shift bracket to manually operate and I can get it to lock into forward but thats dependent on where the drive is positioned(down no engagement, halfway it'll engage) Still no reverse, just free spins. My remote cable moves the 3 inches as it should but my lower drive cable only moves about 1 and 3/8 inch when operated by hand.. Is that correct? Or should it move farther? Thinking the problem is inside the drive?? Its like the cable is either too short or its hitting something in the bottom. Anyone have any ideas on where to go with this? As a newbie any advise is much appreciated.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Start off by pulling the drive and doing normal service to it. While doing that, check that forward and reverse works when off the boat and the linkage is moved by hand.

 

[Ed Harris]

I agree with Rick. Might have a lot of crud built up around the shift guide in the bell and outdrive. might as well check the gimble bearing while your in there.

 

[dw5500]

Pulled the drive. I can lock both in on the drive removed from the boat,. Replaced the lower shift cable. Installed, Reverse locks in but no forward. Forward is locked during install, manually move the cable and reverse locks in, go to lock in forward again and nothing. The cable is not traveling back into the cavity all the way. The cable is about 1/2 inch away from the pin on the shift bracket. I've had it off at least 7 times and it's the same every single time. No forward after it's into reverse. If you check it with it a little bit away from the bellhousing both lock in every time. The cavity is clean. Is it possible that the shift fork is twisting in reverse and not allowing it to go all the way back into the cavity when shifted into forward??

 

[Rick Stephens]

When looking at the brass shift shoe with it off the boat, it should be pointing straight forward when it hits the stops and the prop is locked when turned CCW. When the shift shoe is turned to around 10:00 position it should go into reverse with the prop locking when turned CW. Half in between is neutral.

Next thing to do if that works properly is go through the linkage adjustment again. I can't but advise you follow Chris's video, it is the best for doing that adjustment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_tgevX2aI

 

[dw5500]

The shift shoe is forward during install prop locked counterclockwise. Remove the shift cable from the engine bracket, pull to engage reverse prop locks clockwise go to push Cable in prop will not lock counterclockwise. shift shoe is not 100% straight forward and cable is about 1/2 inch away from engine bracket that it was installed on during install. Like its hanging up in the cavity after its moved the first time. When I installed the allen screw on the lower cable, I tightened it all the way to the cable end. Is it in fact suppose to be loose? Thinking this may be a self inflicted issue by having it tight?? Any thoughts on that? When the drive is removed, I can move the engine bracket side of the cable assembly along with the shoe well past the 12 o'clock position.

 

[nola mike]

That's a possibility. The shift slide should be loose enough to rotate on the shift cable.

 

[dw5500]

Finally pulled the drive again to investigate. Loosening the shift slide did not work. Pulled again and took a extremely close look at the shift slide at the lower end of the cable. Didn't have a micrometer handy to compare but by eye the new one looks a bit wider. I decided to pull the cable out so I could install the shift slide into the cavity in the drive and it stuck out about a 1/2 inch further then the old slide. Ended up reusing the old shift slide with the new cable and now can lock the prop in both directions shifting cable by hand. Still need to finish installing cables and adjustment but hopefully that's the trick. Thanks for the ideas that were thrown my way. Have to install a fuel filter kit and then will see how it is on the water.