New Shift/Throttle Cables Grinding

[Elbeau]

This one is driving me nuts! Any help will be appreciated.

I have a 1998 Maxum 20' Bowrider with a 5.7liter Mercruiser engine and a Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 2 Outdrive.

The boat was getting sticky both shifting and using the throttle, so I decided to replace both cables. I'm pretty handy and found it to be a pretty straightforward job, except now that the new cables are installed, they're worse than the originals. After trying a bunch of stuff, I pulled the new cables back out and tried moving them manually. They're grinding...unless I twist the inner cable a little...SO...I reinstalled them and twisted the innner cable before attaching to the engine end. Here's what's wierd: After I twist it, it will work good for about 2-3 shifts, then it immediately starts grinding again and gets worse and worse with each shift.

I've really beat my head about this one. Can someone else give me some ideas? I bought the cables from a reputable local dealer, but maybe they're just bad cables. Are there any "premium" cables I can buy to make sure I don't have problems like this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: New Shift/Throttle Cables Grinding

Could be bad cables, or could be you have too sharp of a bend somewhere. How does it shift with the cables connected to the control and laid out straight?

 

[rad1026]

Re: New Shift/Throttle Cables Grinding

I'm doing the same thing right now. Got the shift cable adjusted last night and need to hook up the throttle cable this weekend. Both cables moved very smoothly, no grinding. I think somehow you got bad cables, especially if they grind just when you move them removed from the boat. I installed Teleflex.

 

[Bondo]

Re: New Shift/Throttle Cables Grinding

The boat was getting sticky both shifting

Ayuh,.....

It's entirely possible that you've changed out the helm control cables,...
But,...
The Real Problem could very well be the Lower Shift Cable.....It's the most common 1 to give Trouble....