Please help..Stuck on stupid today!

[Eastboundndown]

Ok, it’s Monday and I’m feeling pretty stupid for even throwing this question out there but I have the day off today and wanted to take this opportunity to install a controller in an 87 Thompson cruiser that I have been(painstakingly) trying to restore. So I hooked the cables and cut out switch up slapped the screws in, started her up, checked shifting in forward and reverse and with control in the “forward” pos. The clutch wasn’t fully engaging(turning slowly with the clicking noise) so I figure simple adjustment should fix the issue.... so now I’m in the engine compartment at shift linkage with controller in forward and I quickly realize that when my controller is in forward gear it pushes (extends) shift cable... according to my sucky seloc manual that should be reverse for alpha 1. So now I don’t know what the hell to do... did seloc manual mislead me when it says that if you push shift cable in while spinning prop. Counterclockwise till it stops you are in forward or do I have the wrong type of controller? Thx

 

[achris]

... if you push shift cable in while spinning prop counterclockwise till it stops, you are in forward ...

That's correct.

 

[nola mike]

To me, pulling on the cable = extension. Extending the cable should be reverse. Compressing the cable will be forward, and your prop should lock when turning CCW. However, AFAIK all the compatible controls have the cables moving in the same direction; when shifting the reverse rotation drives, the reverse rotation is in the drive itself, not the controls.

 

[Eastboundndown]

To me, pulling on the cable = extension. Extending the cable should be reverse. Compressing the cable will be forward, and your prop should lock when turning CCW. However, AFAIK all the compatible controls have the cables moving in the same direction; when shifting the reverse rotation drives, the reverse rotation is in the drive itself, not the controls.

Sorry for the confusion.. according to manual If the shift cable to outdrive is compressed at shift linkage(engine end of cable) and prop stops when rotating cc.. which it does... and if that is forward then my controller must either be the wrong type or needs to be reconfigured differently because when you push arm into forward it compresses the shift cable lever at controller (torwards stern) and extends at linkage end!?? So the bottom line is the controller is pushing instead of pulling the cable in forward... I apologize and my bad for not explaining it better in original post. Thx

 

[nola mike]

OK, from your explanation (I think) that sounds backwards. Link below of the adjustment procedure, step 7 shows what it should be doing...

 

[nola mike]

Can't seem to link directly, look at post #3 here:
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/eng...es/614770-alpha-one-shifting-cable-adjustment

 

[Bt Doctur]

What control box , name and model. Each control box has different holes to attach the cable ends . Where you put the cable determines what direction ans what length the cable moves.

Typically when pushing the black plastic sleeve inward , toward the transom until the prop locks CCW is forward.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Starts at 2A-13 http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14a2.pdf

 

[Eastboundndown]

Does anybody know if controller operation can be reversed... if not this things going to look really funny mounted upside down.. lol

 

[achris]

Most can. It's just a matter of where you hook the cable.

 

[Eastboundndown]

What control box , name and model. Each control box has different holes to attach the cable ends . Where you put the cable determines what direction ans what length the cable moves.

Typically when pushing the black plastic sleeve inward , toward the transom until the prop locks CCW is forward.

Thx BT.. I think that’s how it is.. but just to be sure ..CCW from which POV inside or outside the boat.. if outside then that’s a relief because I really didn’t want to have to pull drive off., I appreciate the help. Thx

 

[Eastboundndown]

Thx Mike and Achris.. I will pull out controller and see if there is a way to change direction and if not I’ll have to find a new controller

 

[Bt Doctur]

from outside the boat looking at the prop it locks CCW for Fwd