Mercruiser pre alpha will not shift into reverse

[Finz123]

Hi i have a 1973 mercruiser 165 with a inline 6cyl 250cid. I recently replaced the lower shift cable due to not being able to shift into reverse. After cable was replaced i tried to adjust the shift cables according to the manual i got. I can get the reverse gear to grab by adjusting the cable and turning the prop by hand, but once i start the boat on muffs i can shift it into forward but when shifting into reverse the interupter switch kills the engine. I can adjust the the cables so the interupter wont kill the engine when shiftin into rev, but then it wont engage the reverse gear the motor will just rev up like it is in neutral.not sure if the remote shift cable is to blame, the interupter switch or linkages in the outdrive.

 

[stonyloam]

If you had the entire outdrive off, and if you can move the control freely from wot forward to wot reverse then it could be that when you put it back together the roller on the underside of the upper shift shaft lever was not captured between the two arms of the shift slide. It could be killing the engine because the slide is binding of reaching its travel limit. Your symptoms do not exactly indicate that is what is going on, but is something to check.

 

[Bt Doctur]

If the shift cable was installed correctly and adjusted correctly then that leaves corrosion /wear on the lower splined shaft,
a worn/corroded brass lower shoe or a worn shift spool in the lower unit