Shift issue with alpha 1 gen 1 mated to mc-1

[i_build]

Was not able to manually shift into reverse by pulling on lower shift cable. Replaced lower shift cable and now I can manually shift into forward and reverse easily however when I connect to shift plate as per specs with 6 inches between barrel and hole at end of cable on center I can get it to engage in one gear or the other by adjusting the control box cable barrel. Even sliding the pin on the shift plate from the lowest location in the slot to the highest I can't get both gears. The travel distance on the control cable going from full forward to full reverse is 2 and 7 8ths inches which I believe is in spec. The prior owner had the cables mounted in reverse on the shift plate and had a worm clamp holding the lower shift cable in place which worked for a short period after I purchased. Is it possible that the mc-1 shift plate doesn't have the travel distance I need for the alpha 1 gen 1 shift cable?

 

[Bt Doctur]

sounds more like a worn shift spool, remove the drive and manually turn the shoe fully clockwise while turning the prop CCW untill locked.The brass shoe must be at 12:00 .If it goes past 12:00 the spool; is worn out.

 

[i_build]

Dead on at 12. I drilled out the slot in the shift plate an 8th of an inch and im getting awesome shifts now. Assuming the shift plate was oe from 1966. Some pics I see online look like the mc-1 shift plate had larger slots than the one on mine??? But all is good now. Thanks.