Shift assist?

[shelden]

I was wondering if the spring loaded arm that mounts by the upper shift cable is necessary. I'm also wondering what exactly it does. My throttle/shift lever is pretty stiff so I did some troubleshooting and realized as soon as I take it out of the equation it moves smooth and easy. I've also been having trouble with the boat stalling out when shifting back into neutral. Not every time but usually when it's at a really bad time. Then the boat doesn't like to start right back up easy. Think it floods or something. Anyway that's why I started poking around. And the lower shift cable moves free and smooth. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Try removing it to see. I usually disconnect them and the customers love the new feel

 

[shelden]

Does it have anything to do with the switch that kills the motor for shifting? Didn't know if it needed that pressure to move the switch?

 

[Bt Doctur]

No, the switch never moves on land ,if it does the lower shift cable may need replacing

 

[shelden]

Yea I've heard that, but I ment when in water the switch will still function properly without that spring assist in there?

 

[Bt Doctur]

yes,if working properly

 

[shelden]

Ok I'll give it a shot, thanks a bunch for the help!

 

[achris]

If you are working on an MPI/EFI engine, you need the assister. Those engines only cut half the cylinders and need that extra 'kick' to get out of gear (ask me how I know :facepalm

If it's a carbed engine, toss it.

Chris......

 

[shelden]

It is a carb engine and I'm so glad it can go, the lever movement is so much smoother without it.

 

[ianh567]

I have owned my boat Searay 220 CC for 3+ years and the shifting has always been very stiff. Hard to get into FWD or REV and then the engine would die sometimes going from REV to NEU or FWD to NEU. I got a new shifter, new shift cable, new throttle cable, new shift plate (with a new shift interrupter switch). The shifting was still very stiff, but the engine didn't die anymore when shifting back to NEU.

Replaced some worn bushings and rubber seals in the out drive that were letting dirt and water in. Still the shifting was stiff and difficult.

solution:
First the shift cable adjustment still needs to be done correctly for both the gear cable and the shift cable. Then I removed my shift assist and the shifting became very easy. All the other parts I replaced needed replacing due to age, but the shifting only became easy or super smooth when that stupid shift assist was removed.