How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

[Fishermark]

Sorry for the long post, bear with me! <br /><br />I am still having problems with adjusting the forward and reverse on my 1986 alpha one. When I take the drive off, I can turn the shift "shoe" on the outdrive and make it engage forward and reverse very easily (turning the prop by hand in the appropriate direction). <br /><br />With the outdrive installed I can push or pull the gear shift cable and it will go into gear, again, relatively easily. When I hook it all up and try it out with the control box I cannot get both forward and reverse. I can get one or the other. <br /><br />I found an article online that seems to address this problem: shifting problems <br /><br />The article suggests taking the outdrive off and checking the ammount of play at the shift shoe. Here's what it says:<br />

Turn the propeller shaft in a counterclockwise direction while you turn the brass shift lever on the outdrive in a clockwise direction until they both lock up. Keep light tension on the prop shaft and see if you have any left to right movement on the brass shifting lever. There should be very little. If you have a lot of movement, the castle nut most likely needs to be replaced.<br />

I tried that and thought that must be the problem, but there doesn't seem to be much play in my shift shoe. There IS a lot of side to side "sloppiness" if I push the shoe one side or another, but when I try to turn it there isn't a "lot" of play... but there is a little. <br /><br />Anyone follow all of that and have a suggestion?

 

[Bondo]

Re: How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

Fishermark,<br />Yes, I follow you...<br />And, Yes, there Is a Bushing in the driveshaft housing, right there Under your shoe....<br />Side-play should be Minimal....<br /><br />Either way, It appears you've covered the rest of the system..... <br />It Might be a good time to replace your Impeller.... You'll be able to service that Bushing when you get it that far apart....

 

[affa]

Re: How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

Hi Fishermark<br />Are you sure youre shift and remote cables are adjusted properly?<br />Regards<br />Affa

 

[rodbolt]

Re: How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

hello<br /> in the alpha service manual thereisa template to make a degree wheel tomeasure total motion of the shift lever in the upper case. if I can remember I will try to find the page number for you. its quite simple and easy. you should run down toyour merc dealer and buy the manual for this and future reference.<br /> goodluck and keep posting

 

[affa]

Re: How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

Hi again Fishermark<br />I think this service bulletine talks about this<br /> http://www.sterndrives.com/bulletins/mc/89/EN_004.PDF <br />I hope its the right one, I cant use adobe files on my home computer, so I cant open it, but I believe this is the one, if not let me know, and Ill check it out on my work computer tomorrow<br />Regards<br />Affa

 

[Fishermark]

Re: How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

Yes Affa, that page is the correct one. I will print that off and keep it for reference. (I actually dropped the outdrive off at the local marina yesterday, but will be sure they have the same reference!) I am going out of town for the weekend, I'll let everyone know what the final outcome is.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: How much play is too much? (Alpha one)

This sounds almost identical to a problem i ran into.When you mount the drive and cant shift into reverse--WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS??? does the shift control move properly but the drive does not engage???or does the shifter control stop moving when you try to go from neutral to reverse.Thats what mine did and it turned out that the drive was not locked in forward before 2 halves were put back together.Yes the drive must be locked in fwd by turning the prop when installing the drive,BUT it must first be locked in fwd while the drive is split and put back together.Charlie