Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

[greg82255]

Hello,

I have a 1986 Merc 260/Alpha One. I was docking in some shallow water this weekend and therefore had to trim the drive high up to keep it off the bottom. I noticed that when the trim is up high, the engine won't shift all the way into reverse. Forward isn't as much of a problem - it usually stays in gear but sometimes jumps out. In reverse it just grinds the gears so I move it back to neutral. Upper shift cable is new, but I'm not sure when the lower shift cable was last done. I was planning on doing it this winter along with the bellows. By the way, when I say trim high up, I had to go above the trim limit using the trailer button. Any idea what is going on here, or is it nothing and this is normal?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

Howdy,


No. That is not normal. You probably have a defective lower shift cable.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

Thanks for the reply. Is there any way to test for a bad lower shift cable? Anything else that could be causing this problem?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

Thanks for the reply. Is there any way to test for a bad lower shift cable? Anything else that could be causing this problem?

Get yourself an OEM service manual for your drive and check the adjustment of the shift cable. While your at it, look for (shift)movement while trimming up and down. (there shouldn't be any) If there is, there might be something loose where the cable is secured at the bell housing end....or there might be a foreign object binding against the cable near the bellows etc.....

 

[Kaplooi]

Re: Alpha Won't Stay In Gear When Trimmed Too High.. Is This Normal?

If you don't have a factory service manual you can checkout http://www.mercstuff.com

They have a 'how do i' section that has procedures for specific problems. There's a 1984-1986 alpha one shifting problems section you should check out. The page is specifically written for someone who's already done a complete cable replacement with proper adjustment and is still having shift problems because the original castle nut may be too worn and allows the cable to slip out of adjustment. It's also a good site if you need any specialty Merc. tools.