Hello, I've been fighting my I/O for a while now, and I've run out of ideas on my Merc Alpha One I/O on my 1988 Mirage 170 Magna Bow Rider.
The problem started with servicing my stern drive. When I put the stern drive back on, the shifting shafts weren't lined up well, and bent a little (you know, the little things that you have to be in FWD gear so that they will line up correctly?). I took it back off, lined them up and got it back on right. The shafts are a little bent (I think) but they seem to be fully engaging each other. Problem solved (I thought).
Then, it would shift into FWD, then stay in FWD when you shift into Neutral, and shift into N when trying to go into reverse. It would stay in N when you brought it back to N, and then shift into FWD when you shift into FWD.
"Okay, simple fix" I thought, and then I adjusted the shift cables. No joy. Forward is forward, Neutral is still a tad in fwd, and if you just barely bump it into REV it goes into neutral. If you go all the way into Reverse, it will just start catching, but not go into reverse. It will go back into a good neutral (no grinding) only when you just bump it past Neutral- just barely into FWD. It will solidly go into FWD when you move it all the way FWD.
Here is why I don't think it is a cable adjustment issue:
I disconnected the outdrive (lower) shift cable, and pushed it in all the way. Solidly in FWD. I started pulling it out, and it goes into Neutral. When I pull it out all the way, it doesn't go into Reverse; it does the same thing as when it was hooked up and I try to go into REV with the shift lever. You can hear the dogs knocking, but it doesn't grab.
Something is keeping it from going all the way into reverse. So where would you guys look? Would the slightly bent shafts keep it from shifting into Reverse? Am I missing something completely?
The problem started with servicing my stern drive. When I put the stern drive back on, the shifting shafts weren't lined up well, and bent a little (you know, the little things that you have to be in FWD gear so that they will line up correctly?). I took it back off, lined them up and got it back on right. The shafts are a little bent (I think) but they seem to be fully engaging each other. Problem solved (I thought).
Then, it would shift into FWD, then stay in FWD when you shift into Neutral, and shift into N when trying to go into reverse. It would stay in N when you brought it back to N, and then shift into FWD when you shift into FWD.
"Okay, simple fix" I thought, and then I adjusted the shift cables. No joy. Forward is forward, Neutral is still a tad in fwd, and if you just barely bump it into REV it goes into neutral. If you go all the way into Reverse, it will just start catching, but not go into reverse. It will go back into a good neutral (no grinding) only when you just bump it past Neutral- just barely into FWD. It will solidly go into FWD when you move it all the way FWD.
Here is why I don't think it is a cable adjustment issue:
I disconnected the outdrive (lower) shift cable, and pushed it in all the way. Solidly in FWD. I started pulling it out, and it goes into Neutral. When I pull it out all the way, it doesn't go into Reverse; it does the same thing as when it was hooked up and I try to go into REV with the shift lever. You can hear the dogs knocking, but it doesn't grab.
Something is keeping it from going all the way into reverse. So where would you guys look? Would the slightly bent shafts keep it from shifting into Reverse? Am I missing something completely?