Pre-alpha shifting problems

[john3931]

Took my boat out last night for my virgin run and didn't go anywhere. The prop was barely turning. It worked fine in yard hooked to muffs.
Brought it back home and rechecked the cable adjustments. The only thing I could fine was in shifter yolk and foot between the upper and lower drives. The brass "foot" has play up and down. When I hope it up into the yoke the prop seems to be fine. If it slides down and barely engages.
When I start it and engage it I just get a clicking sound. Sounds like clutch isn't engaging. Where do I go from here?

Mercruiser 228 with pre- alpha.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

The only thing I could fine was in shifter yolk and foot between the upper and lower drives. The brass "foot" has play up and down. When I hope it up into the yoke the prop seems to be fine.

sounds to me like someone forgot to put the washer on top of the shift shaft in the lower...

item 50 in this link... http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show...bnbr=80&bdesc=GEAR+HOUSING+ASSEMBLY,+COMPLETE

 

[john3931]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

I pulled the lower drive off at lunch but didn't get a chance to look to see if washer was there. Should there be water in the cavities between the upper and lower drives?
Another question I forgot to ask this morning. The brass barrel that you adjust on the shift cable, should that be free turning? I can barely turn it using pliers?

 

[john3931]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

Is that washer anything special? Diameter, thickness?

 

[john3931]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

I put a washer in and took the boat out Sunday. Sometimes it doesn't go in forward. After putting it in and several times it finally goes in.
Again, Is the brass barrel on shift cable suppose to turn easily? I have a difficult turning it with pliers.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

This might help
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/94/94hsa2.pdf

 

[ziggy]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

Should there be water in the cavities between the upper and lower drives?

i think that's ok. while i've never seen water in mine when i remove it. it is underwater and there's no seal between the upper and lower short of the quad ring that goes between the two for the lub passage.

Is that washer anything special?

i don't know. but if ya get it from your mercruiser dealer it for sure will be the right one. so did you not have it installed?

Again, Is the brass barrel on shift cable suppose to turn easily?

are you referring to the adj. barrels that are part of the cable that fit into the slots on the shift plate? if so, the brass barrels on mine do turn easy. but i can't see any ramifications of them being stiff unless you just can't get the proper 6'' spacing needed when in fwd. could be a sign too that the cable is old and if so could be your shifting issue. with the lower shift cable disconnected from the shift plate, can you shift it then? the cable should move nice and easy and smooth when disconnected and operated with your fingers. when you operate your shift cable with it disconnected check what's happening at the prop.
when in
fwd. the prop will lock when turned ccw and ratchet cw.
rev. the prop will lock cw and ratchet ccw
neu. the prop will freewheel w/o any sound.
does yours meet this criteria?
back to the barrels turning hard. unless ya can't turn them to achieve your 6'' when installed in fwd i can't think that there'd be any consequence from them turning difficultly. short of the misery to turn them to achieve the adjustment..

bd. that link looks like it has the adj. procedure for the remote cable. not the procedure for adj. of the lower shift cable. am i reading that right?
john, are we talking about the lower shift cable or the cable from the remote at the helm?

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Pre-alpha shifting problems

adjust your cables again by the book to make sure that is what it sounds like.