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Lower shift cable problem

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Boyd242

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I have a Mercury 3.0 ( 1974 ) with a alpha one gen 1 sterndrive. First the problem was: When u push the gas handle in forward or in reverse, the first 40 degrees of pushing did nothing. Then it shoots into gear and moves forward ( or reverse). I reïnstalled the cables with the correct distance and now the boat won’t go in reverse gear. I thought it was a bad shift cable so I ordered a new one and was trying to get the sterndrive off. The sterndrive wont come loose. I think the input shaft is stuck. Besides when i put the male section ( video’s and photos won’t load up ) ) manually in reverse and turn the prop anticlockwise, the male section automatically shoots into neutral. When I keep pushing on the male section with my Finger. U hear a clicking sound and feel it go in neutral and when u push back in reverse. Is it possible that it has something to do with the lower unit? If the gear wheel was not in the correct position when assembled back together ?
 
Boyd242 said:
I have a Mercury 3.0 ( 1974 ) with a alpha one gen 1 sterndrive. First the problem was: When u push the gas handle in forward or in reverse, the first 40 degrees of pushing did nothing. Then it shoots into gear and moves forward ( or reverse). I reïnstalled the cables with the correct distance and now the boat won’t go in reverse gear. I thought it was a bad shift cable so I ordered a new one and was trying to get the sterndrive off. The sterndrive wont come loose. I think the input shaft is stuck. Besides when i put the male section ( video’s and photos won’t load up ) ) manually in reverse and turn the prop anticlockwise, the male section automatically shoots into neutral. When I keep pushing on the male section with my Finger. U hear a clicking sound and feel it go in neutral and when u push back in reverse. Is it possible that it has something to do with the lower unit? If the gear wheel was not in the correct position when assembled back together ?
Click to expand...
Ayuh,..... A '74 should be a MC-1,..... but anyways, yer 1st step is to pull the drive, which is supposed to be done every year to service it,....
 
So 1st off, get your terminology correct.
1974 was a 140hp, not a 3L (yes, I know it's the same basic block) and it's a Mercruiser 1, not an Alpha 1.
I'm pointing this out because the 1st time I read your post, I was thinking mid 80s to 1990, not 1974. You will get off the wall later generation advise that may or may not be relevant. And incorrect parts if you ask for Alpha parts.

That being said, your vintage drive uses a different lower shift cable installation unless it's been updated.
If updated & not re-threaded correctly (primarilly threads not cut deep enough) you will not be able to get reverse.

It takes about 45 degrees of throttle handle travel to shift into gear. Is this boat new to you? Are you new to boating? Does the throttle begin to advance prior to or after shifting into gear? If after, then all is probably good.
 
Bondo, you beat me to the punch.

Drive must be in FORWARD gear to pull drive off.

Somehow you are discussing reverse. Shifting into reverse & rotating the prop counterclockwise (looking from the rear, as is from behind the boat) will push the drive back into neutral if the cable is disconnected.
 
Droid said:
Bondo, you beat me to the punch.

Drive must be in FORWARD gear to pull drive off.

Somehow you are discussing reverse. Shifting into reverse & rotating the prop counterclockwise (looking from the rear, as is from behind the boat) will push the drive back into neutral if the cable is disconnected.
Click to expand...
Ayuh,...... Thanks for filling in what I didn't mention,....
 
Droid said:
Bondo, you beat me to the punch.

Drive must be in FORWARD gear to pull drive off.

Somehow you are discussing reverse. Shifting into reverse & rotating the prop counterclockwise (looking from the rear, as is from behind the boat) will push the drive back into neutral if the cable is disconnected
Click to expand...
 
The drive is in forward :)
So if i do understand. When I put the boat in reverse and disconect the lower shift cable, its normal that it shoots in neutral when turning the prop counterclockwise ?
 
Droid said:
So 1st off, get your terminology correct.
1974 was a 140hp, not a 3L (yes, I know it's the same basic block) and it's a Mercruiser 1, not an Alpha 1.
I'm pointing this out because the 1st time I read your post, I was thinking mid 80s to 1990, not 1974. You will get off the wall later generation advise that may or may not be relevant. And incorrect parts if you ask for Alpha parts.

That being said, your vintage drive uses a different lower shift cable installation unless it's been updated.
If updated & not re-threaded correctly (primarilly threads not cut deep enough) you will not be able to get reverse.

It takes about 45 degrees of throttle handle travel to shift into gear. Is this boat new to you? Are you new to boating? Does the throttle begin to advance prior to or after shifting into gear? If after, then all is probably good.
Click to expand...
I think they installed the alpha one later on because I dont think it’s an MC-1. We bought this boat from other people. I’m trying to understand the problems it has. So the 40 degree pushing on the gas handle is a normal distance to put it in gear ?
 
Boyd242 said:
The drive is in forward :)
So if i do understand. When I put the boat in reverse and disconect the lower shift cable, its normal that it shoots in neutral when turning the prop counterclockwise ?
Click to expand...

Please explain your mechanical abilities and mostly your experience/understanding of mercruiser shifting, outdrives (removal and install).

So far you do not seem to have a lot of knowledge.

We need to know this in order to help you properly.

The drive will not come away if is not in forward gear and prop has been spun by hand C'clockwise to fully engage clutchdog allowing shift linkage to properly line up.

And most important, DONT do stupid sh!t, ask first..
 
If you have the lower cable disconnected at the shift interruptor plate on the transom, push the cable IN while an assistant turns prop counterclockwise until it stops rotating. Now shift linkage going to lower unit is in FWD.
If cables are still connected, simply shift throttle into FWD while the assistant turns the prop counterclockwise until it stops rotating.

Disconnect the hydraulic cylinders & remove 6 nuts & washers. Lift the drive maybe 6 inches & let it fall. This typically breaks the gasket bond.

Now, the bad news:
If it truly fails to move off the studs, you probably have a rust issue between the drive shaft & gimbal bearing or seized splines in the coupler.
I'll cover this problem later if that is the case.

Regarding what drive is on there, we need pictures. The Alpha 1 gen 1 is the service replacement for the original drive. Removal is exactly the same.
 
Regarding the normal shift operation, the handle moves approximately 45 degrees thus completing the shift operation BEFORE the throttle begins to move.
Yes, this is normal. It's not as if the throttle can be in the process of opening and increasing RPM as it slams into gear. That would not be safe & would break all sorts of things.

Go back to post #3 and answer my questions in the last paragraph. Until you answer all my questions, I'm done guessing your issues.
 
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