Logo
FULL SITE MENU

Shift cable adjustment 1999 305

S

shawns99

Member
I have another problem with my 1999 305 Alpha one. When I go from forward or reverse into neutral the drive stays in gear for a few seconds. Makes for fun when trying to get it back on the trailer. Is this a cable adjustment problem? And if so where do I find this adjuster?
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

When you shift from forward or reverse back to neutral what allows that to happen with alpha outdrives is a INTERUPTOR SWITCH. This switch gets activated when there is resistance biult up in the short shift cable.

there is a V notch piece of plastic on the shift bracket, the micro switch arm sits in the middle of this notch. When reisitance occurrs when shifting it cause the V notch to move and activate the switch. The switch is tied into the ignition system and grounds it out for a split second to allow the clutch dogs to seperate in the lower unit.

There are a few different types of shift interuptor switch configurations and it would be good to know what you have.

I dont have all the correct manuals on this computer so I can not post a pic of the different styles.

Look at the micro switch and let us know what it looks like in detail.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Nope usually when the cable goes it goes, if you find you have to replace the lower buy oem, just a few dollars more then aftermarket but it's a far better cable, ether way under 100 bucks.

If it was the long cable from the throttle to the motor then i would say maybe it can be saved bye lube.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Chief,

His symptoms are it will not pull out of gear. Not it stalls when shifting.

If it stalled when shifting then it would be possibly a worn cable issue.

Normally when you have to shift beyond nuetral and into the opposite gear to get into nuetral it is the shift interuptor switch issue.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

I hope to work on it tomorrow. It is raining here again. I'm afraid to go out in the rain I might melt. Or heaven forbid I get the boat wet.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Yes you could have

1 rst thing you can do is start the engine, use your finger to activate the switch, the engine should stall. If it does not the switch is bad.

2nd thing would be to start boat in the water and have someone shift in and out of gear and someone else watch to see if the V notch is moving when shifting out of gear and activating the switch..........
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

The switch is working. It stalls the engine. The problem is that it only interrupts when in almost full reverse. The switch doesn't get hit when going into forward. I think the bottom cable there is in need of adjustment?
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Your response is not clear.

The interuptor switch is activated by the V notch and is only susposed to activate when shifting OUT of gear to neutral not when shifting into gear. Also it will only activate for a brief split second.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

I chickened out. I didn't make the adjustments that were called for. I am so close to going on a week long boating trip that I was afraid of making it worse.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Here is my proceedure.

Trim out drive up 2 inches from all the way down.
Take keys out of ignition!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a second person stand at the prop.
You, remove the short shift cable from the shift bracket.
After the cable has been removed, push the plastic cable end all the way in and hold in place while prop is being spun C’Clockwise..
Have second person rotate prop counter clock wise until the prop is fully engaged and wont turn anymore. Maintain light effort on shift cable plastic end pushing it to keep forward engaged.

Measure the distance from the center of the brass trunion to the center of the round mounting hole in the plastic end. Adjust trunion to make that distance 6 inches. no more no less! In cases where the shift cable is old but still works well you can adjust this dimension to 5 15/16”. NO MORE.

Put shift control handle in forward FULL throttle position.
Remove the control shift cable from shift bracket at this time.

Install short shift cable back onto bracket at this time.

Take the shift control cable and adjust the trunion so it fits perfectly back into the shift bracket.
Before installing it turn the brass trunion 4 complete turns away from the plastic end and reinstall into shift bracket.

Now put shift control handle in the neutral position.
Have second person spin prop, it should spin freely.
Put shift control into the forward detent position at ~ 10:00 position. NO FUTHER.
Have the second person rotate the prop counter clockwise. You should have solid engagement with no ability to continue to turn the prop.

Now shift back into neutral. Prop should spin freely with no clacking or clunking.

Now shift to reverse to the 2:00 o’clock position detent NO FURTHER!!

Have the second person spin the prop clockwise.

If you have positive engagement with no clunking or jumping out of engagement, you are done.

If it does not fully engage into reverse than look at the shift bracket where the short shift cable mounts and there is a slot. Loosen the 7/16 hex that is touching the bracket and move the stud so you are pulling the short cable.

Try this and retest in water under load.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Ok I like it. But the first cable to adjust is the short shift cable. Is that the bottom one? I will attach pic.
 

Attachments

  • Boat 003 (450 x 600).jpg
    Boat 003 (450 x 600).jpg
    86.3 KB · Views: 4,060
  • Boat 002 (600 x 450).jpg
    Boat 002 (600 x 450).jpg
    72.3 KB · Views: 4,858
Last edited:
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Your shift system looks very stock, It also has a newer style interuptor switch, The older ones had a arm with a roller on them.

The short shift cable is the lower cable and goes to the outdrive,
The control shift cable is one on top and from the throttle control.


I am nervous about you trying any of this if you are not sure what parts are what............Maybe its time for a manual and some reading.........
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Well I made the adjustments and it works great in the driveway. Comes out of gear fine from both directions. But in the water only reverse comes out of gear smoothly. When coming out of forward the drive stays engaged for a few seconds. If I bring the controller past neutral towards reverse a little bit it will come out of gear. Can the short shift cable be adjusted to help with this?
 

Attachments

  • Boating 2010 013 (600 x 450).jpg
    Boating 2010 013 (600 x 450).jpg
    58.5 KB · Views: 123
Re: Shift cable adjustment

The problem is in the V notch and interuptor switch.

see if you can loosen the switch and push it into the V notch some. The switch is not being made when shifting out of gear. I forget how it is mounted but I suspect it is with two screws, loosen them and push the switch if there is any slop in it.

If not it may be the switch......just not making as soon as it is supose to.

This is not a cable adjustment issue in my opinion. cable adjustment issues are typically when it stalls when shifting into gear.
 
Re: Shift cable adjustment

Worked almost all of the time. Lake Powell was a success. thanks for all your help. I'm meeting a boat mechanic at the lake next week and he will do the final adjustments.
 
Back
Top