outdrive not going into gear with trim down

[high_boost]

hi, when i have the trim up everything works properly spins clockwise and locks the other way, both directions when i put the trim down will work in forward but not reverse??? any suggestions? by the way its a mercruiser 165 and i think its pre alpha not sure how to tell which outdrive. any help would be appreciated thanks.

 

[cr2k]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

I would suspect a bad lower shift cable. Raise the drive and look for the small cable that goes low on the starboard side of the bell housing. There is (should be) a small rubber boot on it. Look for any damage where you can see. It may be broken is the housing (shift cable). need more info on boat. pictures.

 

[high_boost]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

the boat is a 1973 larson 187 volero sport has a 165hp mercruiser, i dont have pics at the moment, the cable looks fine no visible damage the previous owner had the outdrive off, and told me he replaced it with a used one last year because his was stolen from him when the boat was in storage, i took the cable off the shift plate and when i push it in goes into forward and locks, but when i pull it out i gotta really pull hard for it to lock in reverse.

 

[Pete104]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

There's your problem!

Now you gotta fix it.

 

[high_boost]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

the cable is the problem? its moves easily just for reverse almost feels like its to short and has to pull out further.

 

[cr2k]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

Did you ever see it work after the drive was reinstalled? He might have gotten the shift slide on wrong.
But if it has worked since it was worked on it is most likely the cable.

 

[high_boost]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

yea it did work after reinstalled, but he said one day on the lake just went into neutral and had to get towed in. i just purchased this boat and trying to get it going, i changed the cable today, and i followed the steps in the manual, and i'll get forward and no reverse, and when readjusting ill get no gears but if i just touch the shift shoe a little will lock in forward, and push it a little the other way will lock in reverse, but if i dont touch it i get nothing, also lower shift shaft has a bit of play, any ideas? thanks

 

[Pete104]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

Either you didn't tighten the cable all the way into the bell housing or the shift spool is worn out in the lower!
Somebody should post bible #6 for ya.

 

[high_boost]

Re: outdrive not going into gear with trim down

thanks guys, it was the cable not all the way in the bell housing, fixed that, and with alot of adjusting its working, and the not going into gear with trim down ended up being the cable.