new lower shift cable different to one on boat

[austin123]

This is not for my boat, I am posting for a friend here at work who has no web access. He has a 1979 Marquis with a 120 mercruiser. I have not seen the boat but I let him borrow my Alpha 1 lower shift cable removal tool (thin wall 9/16 socket with nut welded on end) and he said his shift cable screws in from the other side? I found somewhere on the web that you cannot buy the old shift cables which install this way anymore but that you have to convert to the new style and tap the hole from the outside 1/4-18 NPT and use a new style shift cable. He has the new shift cable kit which the local dealer gave him for his year boat but the dealer never said anything to him. Is the above correct? I will probably end up helping or doing the work, which is fine as I just did my own and was not a difficult job plus I have all of the tools. Somebody else must have had this before??<br />Thanks.

 

[Laddies]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

The older cables are available almost any where, as long as the cable sold to him is the the old style that uses the support tube you can tap the back of the bell hsg out and it will work, I have never been able to make the new style armored cables to shift properly in the older units--Bob

 

[elpaso]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm <br /><br />I think this site will help you -<br />If not post back - I have service manual

 

[austin123]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Now I have two opposing opinions?<br />Who is right??<br />The link above is what I had seeen and was referring to.

 

[elpaso]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

The old style cable has not been available for 10 years <br /><br />It is simple - just run the pipe tap through the housing -<br />Install new style cable - it will work fine - I have done<br />this over a fifty times - just follow the "instructions " -<br />Buy a Mercruiser manual - this is how to convert old style too new. <br /> <br />What Mercriser shows you - is not an opinion.

 

[Laddies]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Elpaso, when making a statment on parts like you just did saying some thing is not available, first look in a parts manual the cable is available from, Mercury Marine part number,73723A01, sierra # 18 2158, aqua power#13056 and a couple of other places, ck before you talk---Bob

 

[austin123]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

OK now i'm totally confused. Anybody else want to add anything!!!?????

 

[Laddies]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Brit-Man look right here on iboats in the parts section and you should be able to find the cable you need, I certainly hope I haven't confused you, thought I was trying to help--Bob

 

[austin123]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

It is no trouble to me I am just trying to help a friend. I did however do some more research and found the following from boatfix.com in the merc user manual.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A4R3.PDF <br /><br />Quote "A new style drive unit shift cable attaches to the bell housing from the aft end(rather than the front end as did the old style cable) for easier removal and installation. With the exception of the cable attaching method, the installation and adjustment procedure is the same as the old style cable. A Drive Unit Shift Cable Removal and Installation Tool 91-12037 is required for cable removal and installation"<br /><br />Looks to me like it is a simple swap out or you may need to run a 1/4 pipe tap (straight threads) from the forward side if the hole was not tapped all the way through from the factory.

 

[Laddies]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Thats right if he has already bought the cable that goes in form the rear all that needs to be done is to tap the hole, my point is that the armored cable don't work as well on the old style units as the stranded cable with the support tube--Bob

 

[austin123]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Yes he showed me the cable kit and it was the newer style exactly the same as I just installed on my '88 Alpha 1. I have written down the size tap he needs to go and buy as I could not find anything but 1/4 NPT here at work. I think he is all set now, he just left work and said he was going to look and see if he needed the tap and would let me know tomorrow.

 

[Don S]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Brit-man<br />The 1/4" pipetap with straight threads needs to be run in from the forward side of the bellhousing in order to keep things square and all the threads line up. If you try it from the aft side of the bellhousing (easiest to get to) and it doesn't go in absolutely straight then there are going to be complications later on.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

what DonS says. read, heed and belive. use a 1/4 pipe stright tap and go from the fwd side. I just replaced a bell housing that someone tried it from the aft end with a standard pipe tap. look at page 4a-17 of manual #6 part90-12934--2. the tap is avaible from merc as part# 91-95639<br /> my self personally I find the aft entry late style cables work better with less fighting than the original with a support tube.

 

[austin123]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

Thank you, I had not seen that before when looking at the manual. I will print off the page and forward to my friend. I am surprised there is not more information on this on the web and I had to dig so far.

 

[Don S]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

That information has always been in the Mercruiser manual.<br />Even Before the "WEB"

 

[rodbolt]

Re: new lower shift cable different to one on boat

yep<br /> what DonS said. thats why I still read service manuals at lunch and sometimes I sit by the TV and pick one just to read. better than most anything on the telly any way.