Re: Lower Shift Cable
I did this job and I wanted to post that it was complete and give some feedback. For the special tool I bought 9/16 "Hollow Shank" driver $12 from my local hardware store. It's designed to go into a drill so I used a small socket on the end with a ratchet, this may not work if your retaining nut is corroded unless you got some big vice grips.
Two parts I found difficult
1. Getting the boot around the flange without removing the gimbal ring is a little tricky. I ended up greasing it a little and spinning it.
2. The plastic seal that goes into the transom clips from the INSIDE, this is impossible as far as I can tell without taking the engine out, so I just slid it on and maybe I'll figure it out another time.
In my kit, Sierra 18-2603, I had another small rubber grommet that I didn't know what to do with (lost the instruction sheet) so I put it on the outside of the transom thinking it is supposed to seal somehow onto the transom seal.
I tightened my cable retaining hex nut down all the way so I am going to pull the drive and loosen it 1/2 turn so the cable can spin freely as noted in the manual.
Anyway, the cable is in and functional, I'm thinking the inner transom seal is going to leak since it's not there but looking at this cheap plastic clip it would probly leak anyway. I don't plan on filling my bilge with water anytime soon and I'm sure I'll be replacing it in 2 years anyway since it's a mercruiser.
