Logo
FULL SITE MENU

shift problem

J

jdover

New member
Have a mercrusier 220 with alpha 1 outdrive. Goes into forard gear great but is hard to get in reverse. Is there an adjustment, or any other suggestions
 
I'm having the same problem and can't seem to solve it...it locks great in forward at detent but I can't get it to lock in reverse...clicking is all I get in the outdrive...won't lock in reverse. I followed everything to the letter in the guide too!!! Also when it locks in forward I get some resistence spinning the prop the other way...is that normal?
 
People, if it doesn't adjust then the lower cable is shot.

Bye the way once set and the shifting goes then most likely the lower cable went.

Disconnect the lower from the shift converter, the throttle moving freely ? Yes, THEN THE LOWER CABLE WENT.

Sorry the truth hurts, bye the way buy a oem lower cable few dollars more but has extra coating on the inside this is one of the few times i recommend oem.
 
Thanks chief...I was afraid of that...is it a big job to change that? Once I get the outdrive off, is it hard to figure out? So far this month I've pulled the motor to change the coupler...I hope it's a little lighter job than that! lol Does the job require any special tools? Thanks
 
Alpha 1 shift cable adjustment procedure

Raise outdrive a count of 2-3 seconds from all the way down.
Remove short cable from shift bracket at engine.
Push plastic cable end of short cable all the way IN, have someone turn by hand the prop c’clockwise until full forward engagement.
Measure distance between the center of the brass trunion to the center of the plastic cable end hole that the mounting stud went thru. This measurement must be 6 inches exactly!!

Now shift the control handle to full forward full throttle position.
Try to install short cable onto shift bracket. If it will not fit perfectly adjust the control shift cable trunion “only” until it does. Once there install short cable back onto shift bracket. Now turn control cable trunion 3-4 turns AWAY from the plastic cable end and install into shift bracket.

Shift control handle to neutral. Prop should spin freely with no clicking sounds.

Now shift back into forward but only to the “detent” aprox, 10:00 oclock . This is when forward gear should be fully engaged. Make sure someone is spinning the prop by hand c’clockwise when doing this.
If you have good forward engagement with no slipping then pull handle back to neutral.

Now shift handle to aprox, 2:00 oclock, have the person spin the prop clockwise. This should give you reverse engagement. If it does then you are done! If it does not and you have a clicking sound/ not full engagement then adjust the short shift cable end where it is mounted, there is a slot, loosen the hex nut under the cable end and move cable towards the end of the arm, say ¼ inch and retry. When full reverse is obtained you are done.
Give this a try and report back with results.
 
"seem very good"

They are the best!! I know I wrote them from my limmited memory!!!

I used them ohhhh say 500 + times........

just sayin..........
 
Also remeber these instructions ASSUME all other linkages are in good shape and within tolorances........

If any of them are out of wack then the adjustment proceedure may fail......
 
It worked great no problems with cables. In my area you have to fix it yourself or be without a boat for months, then its winter and not much demand. We dont have to worry about you having alzhimers with this memory. Thanks again
 
Ok...I finally gave in and pulled the boat out AGAIN and changed my lower shift cable (not an overly hard job might I add)...tried the adjustment procedure...it's all good up until I put it in "detent" reverse...same problem I had before...click click click...no engagement! Grrrrrr this boat is gonna be the death of me yet!
What do these instructions mean with the hex nut...on my short cable I have 2 little set screws that hold the cable...and I can't push in the cable anymore unless I cut the end of it...so...should I cut the end?
 
OK...it's 2am here and I'm done trying to get that thing to shift into reverse...I've tried to adjust everything in there and it will not give me engagement in reverse :( I loosened the nut on the barrel and twisted that out 1/2 inch and it changed nothing...
How do I know that my shift lever coming out of the outdrive is on the proper spline inside the lower end? If that was off a notch would it give me the problems I am having trying to adjust?
 
Question...where the shifter fits into the U....is that part supposed to be tight together? Mine is kind of sloppy so should I add a washer in the lower unit to tighten that up?
 
That U shaped piece is suposed to be 1/16 of slop only any more and you will have issues. If it is real sloppy get a large pair of pliers and squeeze it tighter,

On the shift bracket where the two cable are attached there is a slot. The short cable is attached to a adjustable stud with a 7/16 hex nut that you can loosen, if reverse is not engaging you loosen the stud/ nut and push the nut towards the outer end not towards the pivot end.
 
Ok...I think I've got it now...I squeezed the U tighter and added 2 stainless washers/spacers in the lower end which made the union alot tighter....I adjusted linkage and now I've got forward, neutral and reverse! WOW! Thanks for everyone's help...
 
Denis, we are having the same problem. Can you be more exact as to where/how you "added 2 stainless washers/spacers in the lower end?"
 
Back
Top