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pbmps

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"Have a mercruiser that will n

"Have a mercruiser that will not go in reverse.Have changed the lower shift cable,that didnt help.Took the cable loose and tried working the cable by hand,goes in foward but not reverse.I believe the problem is in the lower gear housing,but not being a expert I dont know.with the lower part of outdrive off it seems to go into reverse but not all the way.HELP"
 
Take the outdrive off........B

Take the outdrive off........BE SURE TO PUT SHIFT HANDLE IN FORWARD GEAR before removing.

Look at the bellhousing. Look at the long vertical stainless steel shift link and look at the bottom of it. It is a U shape. The bronze shift arm that sticks out of the lower unit fits into it. Measure the width of the bonze piece (top) and measure the U shape (inside the U)
They should almost be exactly the same. Just enough difference so the bronze fits in with very little play.

Inspect the bronze piece for abnormal wear. Should be clean and good edges.

If the difference is to big squeeze the stainless U to tighten it up or replace it.

Sounds like repeated outdrive removal without putting into forward gear at this point.


Also make sure the Bell cramnk Wheel is in the slot of the cable end and the wheel is not worn off or missing.

Who changed the cable????????? YOU? did you adjust it properly? What year is the boat/outdrive...........Details detils details.........We like details.....

The year is important because there was a problem with one of the vertical stainless steel shaft support bushings in the gimbal housing moving up ~1/8" allowing the shaft to move up also and not geting gear engagement.
 
Thanks for the quick reply.Thi

Thanks for the quick reply.This boat is a 1986 wellcraft.The shift problem only started a few weeks ago.It would not go into gear at all so used WD 40 on the uper end and worked it until the cable was working in and out.That fixed forward.Reverse would go in partway if I worked the shift mechanism with a pair of plyers but would go without forcing it.Nothing looks bent as far asI can tell.How much movement should the shift shaft on the lower unit have?It doesnt seem to move much.
 
On another note........

Fro


On another note........

From your reply you left out so many important deatils. This why it is SO important to tell the WHOLE story.

I actually may have wasted time responding to a problem that may or may not even exist!

A short shift cable in good working order and removed from the shift bracket with no outdrive attached should move freely with just your index finger and thumb.

You also said "cable replaced"?? did you replace it or just spray it? VERY IMPORTANT.

If you only sprayed it and not replaced it REPLACE IT!

You should start over because if you have not replaced the short cable and you need pliers to move anything in the shift mechanics then you should be asking how to do do a cable R&R.

The shaft movement is not the issue....it is the fit between the U shape piece and the Bronze piece on the lower umit.

If there is too much play/gap you will not be able to adjust the shift cables properly. This is a very big issue because of the outdrives repeatedly being removed incorrectly.
 
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