Brandon Mayberry
New member
First time on the thread hoping for some advice so thanks in advance. I have a 2000 Rinker 242 with a 350 mercruiser Mag MPI fuel injected. Has a Bravo 3 lower unit. I replaced my lower shift cable a week or two ago because it was catching and after removing the old one, it was evident that the cable had gotten hot somewhere and melted part of the outer shell causing it to stick occasionally. Well i put the new one in, bolted up the lower unit and just kind of guessed on my adjustment up top. I started the motor and it had reverse and foward so i assumed i was good to go. (i later did some reading that showed i needed a special tool. My mistake) Anyways, I put the boat in the water and didnt have reverse, so i adjust it to get reverse and had both reverse and forward at this point. I ran fine across the lake and sat out for awhile, on the way back to the slip where i plan to leave the boat in the water at, i went to dock and didnt have reverse again. I purchased the special mercruiser tool and adjust according to the directions and such but cannot get forward and reverse. After many fine tuning adjustments i can get either forward or i can get reverse, never both. I think i finally figured out that the cables (both the lower cable and upper) do not stop in the same place at neutral when i shift to either forward or reverse. the instructions located at http://www.mercstuff.com/bravocableadj.htm show that you are to locate the center of the control cable play (or backlash) well i did this but when i shift to forward and then to neutral, the center of this is different than when i shift from reverse to neutral. I dont know if i need to pull the boat back out and start from the beginning by pulling the lower unit again or if i need to replace the upper cable or if i just need to have the shop give it a go. Any information or insight is greatly appreciated!!