Hard to shift

[David Swann]

" I have a 1986 OMC 2.6L SeaDr

" I have a 1986 OMC 2.6L SeaDrive that is hard to shift. We were riding a couple of weeks ago and hit bottom. Shortly after, the engine lost reverse. If I put the shift lever in reverse, and manually pushed the shift arm in the motor slightly, reverse would engage. I was told to adjust the shift cable, which I did and reverse returned, however the boat would not engage in forward smoothly. I changed the shift cable but it did not correct the problem. I have adjusted it to the spot where now both forward and reverse will engage but neither is smooth and it makes a slight grinding sound in both gears until it engages fully. Any ideas? "

 

[David Swann]

" Also, it is nearly impossibl

" Also, it is nearly impossible to find nuetral once the motor is in gear. I have to take the control about halfway to the opposite gear and then back to the upright position. "

 

[a browser]

Check the adjustment of the s

Check the adjustment of the shift switch. It should cut out the engine briefly as it detects tension on the shift cable to allow the the gears to shift easily.