"I've got a shift problem.
"I've got a shift problem. 4.3L Alpha I, 1989. My shifting was working perfect, until about 2 years ago, I was in the hospital for months and let a Merc certified mechanic work on my boat. He was to replace the shift bellows (and all bellows at the time). He said that my boat was old and all the cables should be replaced. They have never worked as smooth and flawless as they did before.
Problems were: stalling when shifting into neutral and reverse. I've not used the boat 50 hours since the cable replacement. When I looked at the stalling problem the shift switch had been cut and wires were soldered and taped. It looked a mess, and I could see that the switch was the problem as the engine was killed on movement of the shift handle. I replaced the switch, and spent a long time adjusting and aligning the cable linkage to get it to work OK. After about 25 hours the same problem was back. Can't shift into reverse, and sometimes stalls on entering neutral from forward (all with engine warmed and running.
I spent yesterday, realigning the shift switch/cable adjustments. I've been using a shop manual for the Alpha I, as to procedure. I now suspect the shift cable to the lower unit maybe failing or improperly installed.
Any and all thoughts on adjusting the cables and checking the lower shift cable greatly appreciated. Is there a wear problem with the castle nut (hardening) on the 85-89 Alpha I?
Thanks ChautauquaBear"
"I've got a shift problem. 4.3L Alpha I, 1989. My shifting was working perfect, until about 2 years ago, I was in the hospital for months and let a Merc certified mechanic work on my boat. He was to replace the shift bellows (and all bellows at the time). He said that my boat was old and all the cables should be replaced. They have never worked as smooth and flawless as they did before.
Problems were: stalling when shifting into neutral and reverse. I've not used the boat 50 hours since the cable replacement. When I looked at the stalling problem the shift switch had been cut and wires were soldered and taped. It looked a mess, and I could see that the switch was the problem as the engine was killed on movement of the shift handle. I replaced the switch, and spent a long time adjusting and aligning the cable linkage to get it to work OK. After about 25 hours the same problem was back. Can't shift into reverse, and sometimes stalls on entering neutral from forward (all with engine warmed and running.
I spent yesterday, realigning the shift switch/cable adjustments. I've been using a shop manual for the Alpha I, as to procedure. I now suspect the shift cable to the lower unit maybe failing or improperly installed.
Any and all thoughts on adjusting the cables and checking the lower shift cable greatly appreciated. Is there a wear problem with the castle nut (hardening) on the 85-89 Alpha I?
Thanks ChautauquaBear"