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Lost reverse 1989 alpha 1

G

gene_d

Regular Contributor
Hello everyone. Boat has been working great this summer. This weekend though I tried to put it into reverse, and the lower just clicked loudly and would not go into reverse.
I searched this post and did the cable adjustments. Merc goes into forward and comes to neutral just fine. It will not go into reverse.
I removed the short shift cable from the shift bracket, and manually pulled the cable all the way out with someone else spinning the prop.
It will not engage into reverse. just the clicking.
Any ideas? Shift dog? something else worn?
 
I pulled the lower unit off. After making some special tools, I got the prop shaft out. My shift spool had .095 slop in it.
The front face of the bronze colored shift spool has a .012 round bore worn into it.
The back of the bronze shift spool has a steel nut threaded onto it. That nut touched another nut that was cotter pinned to the prop shaft.
The manual says there should be .002 - .010 backlash.
How did I end up with .095? The nut pinned to the propshaft was pinned tight. The face only has .012 of ware in it.
Should I tighten the pinned nut until I get .005 play?
Or did something else go wrong?
Could it have been assembled wrong?
I also get .009 clearence between the groove of the spool and the "U" shaped shift bracket. Is this OK?
 
I set the backlash to .010 and reassembled the lower and put it back onto boat.
I still have the same problem. Will not push the lower unit into reverse.
I even tried to put the shift shaft 1 tooth off to make it push into reverse.
It will shift into reverse then. but wont even go to neutral.
I removed the lower shift cable and pushed and pulled on that by hand.
It moved freely but still would not shift into reverse.
I don't understand this. The lower seems to work perfect.
I guess I will buy a lower shift cable. I could not find a mercruiser part here at marineengine.com only the aftermarket.
Can anyone point me in the right direction.
Oh this is a 1986 Alpha 1 gen 1
 
My shifting problem was fixed by replacing the shift spool in the lower unit.
I will wait till the end of the season to replace the boots and lower cable.
Tautog (blackfish) here I come.
 
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