shifter does not lock in nuetral

[badbowtie]

I got a 85 century mirada 255 a couple months ago with a cracked block and been working on it trying to get it ready for water test maybe this weekend. Tonight I finished installing new bellows and trim sendors and went ahead nd replaced lower shift cable while I was doing it all. After I got it all done I was getting the lower cable adjusted and noticed that the shifter will not lock in nuetral. You can go forward or reverse with out pulling the lock tab. It is mercruiser shifter and alpha outdrive. I had this happen one other time on my old boat and I had to tighten the little allen screw on the bottom and never had another problem. I did remove the lower allen screw and pulled it all off and the little pin the is supposed to lock in the plate is all there. It almost acts like it needs a spring to push it back in or what am I missing.

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Disconnect the cable at the shift & see if it behaves!

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

I will have to wait till I uncover the boat again to finish. I have to replace the impeller still and fill the outdrive and I will be already for water trial. I will have to see how to get to the cable behind the shifter to unhook it. If I push in on the locking pin it locks everytime. I may even try to unhook the cable at the motor and see if it works that way first. So are you also saying if the shifter cable that goes from the shifter to the motor is bad does that cause it. I am thinking about going to try to get mine out so I can measure it and replace it.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

okay disregard the post above I went out and climbed under the cover and pulled the cable off of the shifter at the shifter and it still does not lock almost like it is wore out or out of line. I can loosen the allen screw and get it to lock then play around with it and retighten the screw and it will lock a couple times then not lock anymore. I looked around on ebay and do not even see the shifter any were like mine I have the trim and also have the trailer button on my mine. I have been looking around online trying to find a parts diagram to make sure I have the back ring and pin in the right place and not sure which model I have but had the same one on my old boat that was a 85 also.

 

[Don S]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

There is a neutral latch in the control itself that is probably broken. The cables don't know where neutral is.

Do you have a picture of your control? I have no clue what they used on your boat.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

From the searching aorund I am pretty sure I have the quicksilver 88150a7

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Do you feel the "detent" when it's in neutral? It feels like a little notch!

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

I know what you are talking about and the locking cam behind the shifter handle has the whole in it and the pin in the handle will go in it sometimes. Almost like there should be a spring to push the pin in the locking cam all the time When you pass that spot on the cam. Don I would like to hear about the neutral latch you are talking about.

 

[Don S]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

There is a link rod that goes down from the trigger to a pin that catches in a lock ring in the control. Here is the manual on that control. you shouldn't have to remove the control, only the handle. Read through the instructions before taking anything apart.

http://www.4shared.com/office/rYj9WUGR/file.html?

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

The spring is in the trigger of the handle @ the top. The piece you squeeze to get it to move. There is a little plastic piece that breaks & then the spring does nothing.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Reading thru that manual I am a tad confused the lock ring number 4 has the little nipples that lock into the holes being number 1 when they are lined up the little 1/4 pin number 12 does not lock in the back holes in number one only lines up with the notch in number 4 and not sure if it matters which notch on the lock plate or does it not matter. The spring up in my handle is not broke and it all works it just seems like nothing pushes number 12 back in to lock. Almost like the pin is to fat to fit in the notch.

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

The ring that has the notches in it will fit countless ways. The notch needs to be somewhere around 1 o'clock, perhaps closer to 3 o'clock. It's really trial & error because the control was designed to be installed in several configurations.
Instead of assembling each time, Put your thumb on left hand on the shift rod. This hold it in place like fully assembled.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Okay that is about were I have the ring and as long as I don't tigten the bottom allen screw and can have the handle completly assembled. I can hold in on it like the screw would hold it tight with one hand and use the other it works great, but as soon as you tighten the screw it is like it offsets the handle just enough it will not let the pin slide in the notch.

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Now put the harness together w/the insulater. Make sure you spread the 4 wires over the screw bosses (2 each side). Then put the cover back on & that should be it. The wires & insulator are holding the shift rod in place, just as your thumb was.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Yea I have done this about 10 times and for some reason everytime I tighten the allen screw it is like it cocks the handle then the pin does not line up any more. Once you pull the lever and pull it from nuetral and try to return it will not lock back into nuetral.

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

You need to make sure the wires are against the rod. It pivots on them when you squeeze the trigger. You are real close, just keep trying!
Are you getting the handle slid on all the way? The handle mat'l is pretty soft, there may be a burr hanging it up.

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Well I eneded up getting it to lock yesterday after I pulled the lock pin out and putting the handle back on and looked in the hole and the lock ring was covering a very small part of the hole. So I pulled it back apart and the little notch in the lock ring I took a file and made the notch deeper towards the center and it locks everytime. So I headed to the lake to try the new to me boat and motor and all the other work I did. Well the boat would not crank or anything when I got to the launch ramp. I played around with shifter and if I hold pressure on the throttle forward it will crank like I have to hold pressure against the nuetral lock pin for it to start so I have no idea what I put together wrong how it knows when in nuetral.

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

The "neutral safety switch" is mounted with screws & nuts. I'm not there & know exactly what your up against! I'm not going to suggest anything that isn't safe.
If you can move the drum assembly that much, either your missing 1 of the plastic/nylon bushings or the box is just plain worn out!
Given any thought to replacing it?

 

[badbowtie]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

I have thought about replacing it but just not right know. I am just not sure if I am using the wrong notch on the lock ring because if I install the lock ring with the other notch up it is clocked just a tad different. I notcied there is a little raised dot on the lock ring but not sure if it faces up or down to have the lock ring clocked right. If the shift cable was adjusted wrong would or could that have anything to do with the neutral start deal.

 

[Pete104]

Re: shifter does not lock in nuetral

Right, the notches aren't 180 degrees apart because the control can be installed in any position, but the handle still look "proper".
Originally, the lock ring was glued to the cotrol box itself. They used a neoprene kind of adhesive, gentle stuff that could be undone but strong enough to hold lock ring in place during shipping. Look real close & you may see where it was. A long shot but you never know!