Shift cable advice/question

[Iam4AU]

OK, I've really got to give up and ask for help.

I own a 1987 Sea Ray all original
3.0L
Serial # on drive is B475644

I am trying to make sense of all the different lower shift cables for sale. The only thing I am sure of is (I think) is that I have an Alpha 1 drive that is NOT Gen 2

Just had all the bellows replaced, but now shifting is difficult

Quicksilver Mercruiser Shift Cable Kit part number 865436A03
GLM Part Number: 21451;
Sierra Part Number: 18-2190;
http://www.iboats.com/Lower-Shift-C...0438703--session_id.195252860--view_id.172573
Mercury Part Number: 865436A02

1.Why is the Quicksilver # different from the mercury?
2.Which one should I order QS, GLM, or Sierra?
3.Do I really need a "KIT" or is just the cable fine?
My current setup is all intact, is just 25 years old and I have been told it is the reason for my shift problems.
4. The quicksilver kit is listed as fitting everything, is that possible?

Thanks for the help

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

What do you mean by "SHIFTING IS DIFFICULT" ?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

Your gonna need that whole kit except for the bellows since you just did it.
Wow 25-years on a shift cable

Here is the difference between the ...A02 & ...A03 numbers:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=306246

If you already have the gasket kit to reinstall the outdrive the the A02 will get it done for you.

You may want to take a look at the shift shaft seal/bushing in the bellhousing while you are in there. They have been upgraded to a more robust design since the older ones (seals) had a tendancy of falling apart:


http://www.iboats.com/Mercury-Marine-23-805041A2-replacement-parts/dm/view_id.464132

here is an edited photo from Fishermark of them installed:

 

[Iam4AU]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

What do you mean by "SHIFTING IS DIFFICULT" ?

This is all a left over problem from last year. I had work done, and then lost faith in my mechanic when I had to finally go and "recover" my boat from his shop. After the work to replace bearing, leaking bellows etc. No leaks, but it was hard to shift out of gear, forward AND reverse. The mechanic failed to ever replace the cable as he had promised, the scene turned ugly, and we parted ways. I went through the process of trying to adjust the cable per the manual, but no improvement. I feel really confident that I did everything as instructed, which has left me with the conclusion that the cable is bad.

I think the 865436A03 is for me, better too many parts than not enough.
Might as well get the shift shaft bushing while I'm in there.

Thanks everyone for the help! Does anyone know of a video showing the whole process? I know there isn't much incentive for sharing this with the world, but just asking.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

That shift arm with the roller on the end (top of the shaft) has to come off to replace those seals. There is a small allen bolt in the shift arm you can see in the pic. You may damage that arm trying to remove it. May wanna remove it before you order the parts just in case.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

Here is the Mercruiser service repair manual#6 for your outdrive. It is view only, but you can print pages as needed:
http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/manuals/mercruiser6.html#/0

The one for your engine is on that site as well, just not sure which you would need.

 

[Don S]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

1.Why is the Quicksilver # different from the mercury?
Quicksilver is Merc. It's just the retail version sold by stores that are not Merc certified repair and parts dealer. Like wallyworld and west marine

2.Which one should I order QS, GLM, or Sierra?
Quicksilver or Mercruiser. They are the same
If you ever get to compare the Oem cables with the aftermarket cables, you will SEE why they are worth the extra bucks.

3.Do I really need a "KIT" or is just the cable fine?
The kit you mentioned includes the drive installation gaskets and seals and the shift cable bellows. You need them one way or the other, might as well get the kit.

My current setup is all intact, is just 25 years old and I have been told it is the reason for my shift problems.
Kind of amazing it lasted that long.

4. The quicksilver kit is listed as fitting everything, is that possible?
Yes, it's possible, the older MC-1 drives had to have the bellhousining tapped out for the newer style, but the newer cables are so much better.

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

Did you try to take the cable off and manually working it to try to engage the gears ? Fully in should be FWD and fully out should be reverse (if my memory serves me correct). If that The total "play" from in to out should be no greater than 1 3/8 inch.

You didn't explain hard shifting again. Was it grinding in and out of gears, or was the control physically hard to push forward and back ? The problem might not be a bad cable .

 

[Iam4AU]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

Did you try to take the cable off and manually working it to try to engage the gears ? Fully in should be FWD and fully out should be reverse (if my memory serves me correct). If that The total "play" from in to out should be no greater than 1 3/8 inch.

You didn't explain hard shifting again. Was it grinding in and out of gears, or was the control physically hard to push forward and back ? The problem might not be a bad cable .

I did take the cable off and went through the adjustment steps per the manual. It WILL shift in and out of F & R manually with the cable disconnected. I was so excited that I hooked her up and drove to the lake only to find out that it was the same as it was when I first got it back from the repair shop.

By "difficult" I mean it is a pain in the arse The unit will shift INTO F or R but will not shift OUT of F or R without assistance. The shift cut out switch roller does not center. So basically I can manually bump the shift cut out switch while someone else moves the remote control arm and we can redneck engineer it up and down the lake but...... uh no.

I have been told that I need a new cable, and the manual seems to imply that as well. Do you have a different opinion? If so, I am all ears. Pulling all this apart isn't exactly on my list of fun ways to spend my free time.

I am the third owner of the well maintained boat. I bought it in 2005, and to my knowledge this is the first problem it has ever had other than the alternator I replaced a few years back.

Never a problem at all until I took it to a shop for a routine bellows replacement. He did some other things, but the shifting problem is the most severe.

Honestly, my wife and 3 teenage daughters have burned up all my repair dad's boat money, so I have basically ignored the thing for almost a year. I have had enough, it's time to fix my boat

 

[Iam4AU]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

1.Why is the Quicksilver # different from the mercury?
Quicksilver is Merc. It's just the retail version sold by stores that are not Merc certified repair and parts dealer. Like wallyworld and west marine

2.Which one should I order QS, GLM, or Sierra?
Quicksilver or Mercruiser. They are the same
If you ever get to compare the Oem cables with the aftermarket cables, you will SEE why they are worth the extra bucks.

3.Do I really need a "KIT" or is just the cable fine?
The kit you mentioned includes the drive installation gaskets and seals and the shift cable bellows. You need them one way or the other, might as well get the kit.

My current setup is all intact, is just 25 years old and I have been told it is the reason for my shift problems.
Kind of amazing it lasted that long.

4. The quicksilver kit is listed as fitting everything, is that possible?
Yes, it's possible, the older MC-1 drives had to have the bellhousining tapped out for the newer style, but the newer cables are so much better.

Thanks for answering all my trivia questions.

 

[CaptainMak]

Re: Shift cable advice/question

I have been told that I need a new cable, and the manual seems to imply that as well.

You have more than an 1.5'' play in the cable ?
Swapping our the cable is not too tough, in my opinion. Probably a 2 hr job at a relaxed pace and with beer breaks in-between. ;D Let us know what you decide to do.