Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

[merlin696]

To start with I have an 89 Sea Ray with the 4.3L Alpha One

Took the boat out for the first time after winter storage and ran into a problem and after searching the forums I couldn't find anything that was similar to my issue

The problem is if I put the boat into reverse it goes in just fine, no dying engine nothing, once I put it back up to Neutral the engine is staying in idle even though the shifter is locked out. From that point it will not go into forward at all, It just wont go... unless I turn the engine off and then restart it, then its out of idle and in neutral and I can go to forward gear or back to reverse if I want... It is also just the opposite if I put it in forward gear and then back to locked neutral it stays stuck in idle even though its locked in neutral and will not go to reverse until I turn the engine off and back on. The shifting is smooth and with the engine off I can go both directions with out issue... Got any ideas?

Please tell me its something simple, maybe one of the winter gremlins crawled inside in storage and loosened a connection?

oh yeah the engine does like its suppose to and wont start with it in gear so I think the switch is good.. I think

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

in the water or on a trailer, in water check the shift interupt switch, on land possable bad shift cable or lower unit damage.

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

Out of the water on muffs seems to be fine, in the water is the issue, got any links to a diagram on where the shift interrupt switch is

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

and how to test it?

as well as I cant seem to find a replacement part anywhere????

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

The switch is on a bracket on the engine where the lower and helm shift cables attach together.

.

 

[merlin696]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

It was the switch, it did not kill the engine when i engaged it manually nothing happened so i followed the wire and it turned out to be a loos screw, tightened it up and it worked back to normal.

Thanks for the help

 

[Pete104]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

Frickin' gremlins!

 

[gavincollison]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

Hi guys I have a 89 searay to, with the alpha one outdrive. Do you have to have this interupt switch fitted as mine doesn't have one. The lever part is there but no switch

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

You need to start a new thread of your own gavin, not hijack someone elses thread.

 

[gavincollison]

Re: Alpha shift Issues, stuck in Idle wont shift back without turning engine off

Merlin thanks for the link. Don, I apologise for posting on somebody else's enquiry I just felt that my question was very relevant to topic. I also would have thought that a simple yes/no was not worthy of it's own topic. I thank you for your advice