Mercruiser Alpha 1 Lower Shift cable

[BigE34691]

Hey all,

Question about lower shift cable. I have a 89 Ebbtide with 3.0 l motor and Alpha 1 Drive. About 3 years ago when I 1st got the boat I changed out the lower shift cable while I had the motor out. Ok this is the history.

Problem is she wont shift into reverse. I just put my new floor/stringers in so i had her apart for a while. Testing the shifting with motor off it will not get into reverse. So I took the cable off the motor side and did it by hand. It goes smooth for forward and neutral but reverse it only clicks. I pull as hard as I can on the cable and it does not engage.

I'm thinking the cable is shot and needs to be replaced. What gets me is why? I took the drive off this past October for its yearly and all was well. The only thing that caught my eye was a little bit of crude on the base of the shift cable inside drive. (I had taken the boat out about a dozen times after that and all gears worked perfect. ) I'm wondering if something has a small leak causing crude to build up under the cable not allowing it into reverse.

Since i'm in the Florida the boat is only used in saltwater so even a tiny leak could cause stuff to build up.

Does this sound like a bad shift cable to you guys? I'm thinking if something is leaking it has to be coming from shift cable bellow, All the bellows, ujoints, and gimble bearing were replaced 2 years ago.

Thanks,

Big-E

 

[BigE34691]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha 1 Lower Shift cable

BTW. I have been a member here for some time. I apparently have 2 id's.


Thanks,

Big-E

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha 1 Lower Shift cable

Yes it sounds like a bad cable, but I would make sure the pivot points on the shift plate are well lubed.....​

 

[Big-E]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha 1 Lower Shift cable

Good point. Thanks

Big-E

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha 1 Lower Shift cable

I'm wondering if something has a small leak causing crude to build up under the cable not allowing it into reverse.

Since i'm in the Florida the boat is only used in saltwater so even a tiny leak could cause stuff to build up.

Ayuh,.......

Sounds like you've got the diagnosis,+ Cause all figured out,.....

'course the Cure is Replacing it again......

Was the motor running when you tried the cable in hand trick,..??
Sometimes things have to turn slightly to engage......

 

[Big-E]

Re: Mercruiser Alpha 1 Lower Shift cable

Yes sir. The motor was running. It would engage for a second then go back to heavy clicking - I got the drive off the boat today in about 10 mins. I found the pivot point was greased well and it looked like grease. There was no evidence of water intrusion. So I check the cable and the end where it connects to the shift arm it has some play in it. So then I pulled cable out all the way. It had a tiny bit of rust on it, I dont think that would have caused anything but the free play in the end would. All it needs to be off is a few MM. I put drive in reverse off the boat and it clicks right in and turns the prop while in spinning by hand on the bench.

I dont know where the rust came from on the cable. If it was the bellow that would leak inside the boat right? Since the cable is just bare cable from bellow to inside of out drive. Can the cable get condensation inside its sleeve? The inside of the drive looks good, just like it did in October.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Big-E