broke shifter today

[badbowtie]

Had boat out all day cruising around and just swimming it is a 85 century mirada 255 cruiser with a 350 and alpha drive. I was heading back to launch ramp to drop wife off at the dock to go get the truck and trailer and while I was at the dock the shifter was really acting up. Got her off and back out of the way and tried to figure out what was going on and next thing I knew I was locked in reverse and would not come out. So I shut the boat off and never could get the shifter to engage in neutral to restart it. The shifter will just move forward and backwards with out hitting the unlock button with no resistance. It is a quicksilver commander panel mount 88150a7 with a trim up and down switch with the square trailer button. I think it is just really wore out I am going to replace the whole thing just not sure what will work and will not work. I had a problem a couple months ago it was a neutral lock pin problem I got figured out but it was pretty worn in there. I am going to start looking around on ebay for one just not sure what fits and what does not.

 

[cr2k]

Re: broke shifter today

Like everything else control boxes need love too. I bet it was never lubed. If it's not your control box odds are your lower shift cable is toast.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: broke shifter today

I can tell you it has probably never been lubed the guy before me did not seem like he did much maintance and it has allot of hours on it. I am sure it is not lower cable unless I got a bad one it is only got about 5 hours of run time on it since I replaced it.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: broke shifter today

I looked around on ebay today some and I am not seeing exactly what I have and all the other ones I am finding how do I know what will work and what will not? I would like tou use a newer style but don't want to have to buy all new cables again.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: broke shifter today

I would like to use a newer style but don't want to have to buy all new cables again.

I installed a Mercury/Mercruiser 4000 Series shifter, along with the new style GenII cables a couple years ago. The Gen II cables don't anchor into the new style shifter as secure as the old cables anchored into the old shifter, or I should say there is less surface area where the cable locks into the controller, I wasn't thrilled about that, but it's been working fine... Less surface area of the cable contacting the shifter could wear through after years of use, guess I'll find out in 10 years how it holds up

Teleflex and Uflex make shifters compatible with Mercruiser.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: broke shifter today

I just found the uflex b184 unit that I am going ot call a couple places tomorrow and make sure they say it will work fine with my setup.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: broke shifter today

Okay well I guess the b184 usses gen 2 cables really don't want to replace both cables also. I did pull my handle of the teeth inside of the handle are all stripped I will have to wipe the teeth of the shaft and and see what they look like but was looking around and all I can find is everywere says handle is obsolete. I would love to just order the handle and the shaft and replace what I have. Since I am not having luck finding a shifter that uses gen 1 cables.