Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

[Captain Fluegel]

So this year before I put my boat in the water I had several to dos.
1.Replace Floor/Carpet
2. Replace Gimble bearing and belows both exhaust and what ever the upper one is called

I did most of the floor over the winter and had finished it up and was putting the interior back together, this included re attaching the wiring harness to the series of boards placed along the hull. Also ran along side the hull was my Throttle/steering/Gear selecting cables. In an attempt to have everything nice and tidy I ziptied all of the cables together nice and tight along the hull. I then replaced the Gimble bearing(7 hours) and the belows (20 minutes). I had a considerably hard time putting the outdrive (VP-SX) on and after reading several post on this website decided some gentle tapping with a 10lbs sledge was the way to go and finally got it back on. When I went to reconnect the shift cable I noticed it took considerable effort and when I pushed harder broke the anchor on the plate of the throttle control, I have since put it back together and it still seems stuck. I have never had a problem with a stuck shifter before and wondered if I may have damaged my cable or something when putting the outdrive back together. I really would enjoy not removing my outdrive and am looking to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. The ****er moves in and out of gear easily when the anchor is broke leading me to believe its not the shift assembly and the gear selector on the Outdrive itself is fairly easily changed by hand. I guess my question is mainly did I screw something up when putting the outdrive back on and if so is there a way to trouble shoot that?

 

[Augoose]

Re: Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

The cable simply passes through the outdrive via a channel and connects to the eccentric piston arm linkage. If the linkage moves freely, then your problem is either a pinch or crimp in the cable somewhere or a problem with the remote - especially since you said you broke a component off of the remote.

I would disconnect both ends of the shift cable and then try to slide it in and out of its sheath by hand in order to rule out a problem with the cable itself. Then focus your attention on the remote.

What is causing the friction when you try to install the outdrive? It should not take a whack or a hit from anything and instead should slide right on the studs. You might get a little resistance from the bearing carrier but that's it.

Did you check your alignment?
Did you spin the prop a bit to line up the teeth on the shaft?

 

[Captain Fluegel]

Re: Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

Thanks for your reply. I haven't figured out the way to remove the gear cable from the remote. I will try and get to that sometime tonight. I am not sure what held up the outdrive, I did spin the prop with the gear engaged and felt it settle in the teeth, but it simply would not go in smoothly. Not that it ever came off or went back on smoothly. I do not have an alignment tool so I never did an alignment. I have taken the outdrive off many times however and never made use of one. Can you explain to me how the alignment tool works and what exactly it aligns? Seems that if nothing moves there should be no need, am I mistaken? Thanks for the advice

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

Disconnect the cable from the linkage at the drive and see if the control moves freely.

The fact that you used a sledge putting the drive on means your alignment is probably way off. Did you check the alignment before putting the drive on?

You can replace the cable without removing the drive.

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

I do not have an alignment tool so I never did an alignment. I have taken the outdrive off many times however and never made use of one. Can you explain to me how the alignment tool works and what exactly it aligns? Seems that if nothing moves there should be no need, am I mistaken? Thanks for the advice

Here's information on alignment bars and how-to's. Alignment refers to the engine coupler, drive shaft, and gimble bearing being in axial alignment with eachother. A misaligned drive is hard on the coupler and will cause coupler failure which is a labor intensive repair. And yes, these things can come out of alignment simply by use. It is suggested to pull the drive every year and check the alignment among other things.

 

[muc]

Re: Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

Also ran along side the hull was my Throttle/steering/Gear selecting cables. In an attempt to have everything nice and tidy I ziptied all of the cables together nice and tight along the hull.

cut the zip ties. the cables need to be able to move around some.

 

[Captain Fluegel]

Re: Shifter stuck after Reinstallaion of outdrive

Wouldn't suprise me if it had never been done. While I am still a relative newby the lack of attention this boat suffered is egregious. She has been a complete nightmare.
Update
I have seperated the shift and throttle cables from the wiring loom and have ziptied the harness with additional zip ties along the bottom of the loom, I tighted up the loom and barely connected the bottom Zip to itself around the control cables, leaving plenty of room for free movement.

I spoke to the guys at Regency Marine and they told me it would cost about $110 to do the alignment and 220 plus parts for the shift cable. I am thinking 110 to align maybe worth it buy i feel a little violated on the shift cable. Probably will have the alignment done and do the cable myself.