Shift Cable Adjustment ?

[Jerry Wagner]

1996 3.0LX Mercruiser A1 outdrive <br />My shift cable was replaced two months ago. Out of nowhere, going from fwd. to neutral the boat stays in fwd. Also going from rev. to neutral the boat stays in rev. Do I need to adjust my shift cable?

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

And the make, model, and year is...?????

 

[Jerry Wagner]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

Sorry, a 1996 Mercruiser 3.0LX A1 outdrive.

 

[BMDODGE]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

info was in your first post.... if it shifts into forward and into reverse not an adjustment issue. how do you get it to come out of gear ??? maybe the cable is getting bound up ??? Bruce

 

[Jerry Wagner]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

I get it to come out by squeezing the red trigger and rocking it back and forth rapidly. Now that you mention it, the cable does seem stiff. Since this problem started, when it will go into neutral, sometimes there is a delay and then it "pops" into neutral...Jerry

 

[BMDODGE]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

if you look and the cable seems fine... it could be the shift-shaft. maybe the bushing is worn out of it could be the roller on the shaft. who changed the cable ?? dealer ?? - Bruce

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

It could be many things,and I suspect overheating may have damaged the cable.But 60 days after service,why not go back to the guy who installed the cable?It's not fair to him to go changing things,and THEN bring it to him.<br />DHP

 

[Jerry Wagner]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

Thanks for the help. The cat who fixed this thing previously is my "shady tree mechanic". He is very good and 55 an hour as opposed to the typical 65-90 an hour in the area. He says he will stand behind any work he does. I will look at the cable today after work. Where do I find the shift-shaft, bushing, and roller?

 

[Jerry Wagner]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

The "Saga" continues with my problem. I took the boat out yesterday and learned that it works fin on a garden hose, but in the water it is staying in rev. or fwd. and will not go into neutral. I have a Quicksilver 3000 shifter. The shifter feels tight when the problem is present. Now sometimes it is bad enough that I have to go in rev. to get out of fwd. then try to get it into neutral and vice versa if I am going in rev. Why will this not act up on a hose???

 

[achris]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

Sounds like the cutout switch isn't working. The reason it works on the hose is because there isn't any load on the prop.<br /><br />Check this FAQ, it expalins exactly how it all works.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000029 <br /><br />Chris............

 

[Jerry Wagner]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

The "Saga" continues with my problem. I took the boat out yesterday and learned that it works fin on a garden hose, but in the water it is staying in rev. or fwd. and will not go into neutral. I have a Quicksilver 3000 shifter. The shifter feels tight when the problem is present. Now sometimes it is bad enough that I have to go in rev. to get out of fwd. then try to get it into neutral and vice versa if I am going in rev. Why will this not act up on a hose???

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Shift Cable Adjustment ?

I had a 1989 3.7L with an Alpha one that did exactly what you are describing, right down to if you wait long enough the drive will shift to neutral. I tried to adjust it for a couple years and it just kept getting worse every year. <br /><br />Makes docking an adventure in patience. <br /><br />For me it turned out to be that the shift cable from the engine to the drive was bad. I replaced it and the shifting worked just like new from then on. <br /><br />It could be possible (if this is the cable replaced already) that the new cable was the wrong one or bad out of the box or installed incorrectly or............