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Alpha 1 shift cable adjustment

C

CurtisC

New member
1990 Sea Ray, 4.3 Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 1

Boat was stuck in reverse, no neutral or forward. Removed lower unit and sterndrive housing trying to diagnose. Found the problem was lower shift cable at the linkage. Replaced lower shift cable today, set length to 6", now I have nothing, no gears at all. We finally figure out the shift tube from lower unit to the " saddle" at the bottom of sterndrive were not traveling and were hitting the side when trying to shift. Couple of questions here:
When installing the lower unit what position does the throttle need to be in?
When installing the lower unit what direction does the gear shaft out of the lower unit need turned for a clockwise drive prop?
When adjusting the lower shift cable what position does the throttle need to be in?

I keep ending up with cable linkages that are way off and won't go back together at the correct lengths, HELP!!
 
throttle lever position has no bearing on a drive install, but shifter must be in full fwd.
The shoe needs to be in a straight line with the prop locked CCW
 
Bt Doctur said:
throttle lever position has no bearing on a drive install, but shifter must be in full fwd.
The shoe needs to be in a straight line with the prop locked CCW
Click to expand...

So, if I drop the lower unit just enough to center to shoe, and match it with the shift tube from the lower unit with the prop locked that should be it on the bottom end? Would I leave the shift full forward while setting the lower shift cable AND upper cable or just during the lower?
 
You place the lower unit in some type of stand, turn the lower splined shaft fully clockwise untill the prop lock CCW, this is fwd
Lower the upper unit aligning the upper shoe in a straight line and sliding onto the lower splined shaft
 
Does it matter where the throttle is when I re-install? Just saw a tech article about the RH and LH props and how the adjustment process is different, could I be trying to adjust it for the wrong direction? 3 blade prop, thought it spun clockwise when standing behind it, am I wrong? If I put my thumb on the hub and fingers on the blades, my fingers are up, which I think means clockwise rotation?
 
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