Engine stalls in reverse

[cbear34]

Hello All,

Hope all has been well with everyone with the boating season underway!

Haven't had to ask a question on here in a while, which is good.

I have a 1989 Maxum 2000SR with a Merc 305/ 230HP. Engine serial# OC 459831 with Alpha 1 drive serial# OC 681000. Engine runs great. Shift in forward with no problems. When shifting in reverse the engine will stall. Starts right back up. I can slowly engage reverse and feather the controls to reverse without stalling. Doing a search on the forums and looks like the shift cable is out of adjustment. I have MerCruiser manual number 15 and found the shift cable adjustment procedure in the transmission sections. Going to go through that and was wondering if there is anything else I should check?

Thanks in advance to everyone for your help.

Gary

[Bt Doctur]

when was the shift cable replaced last?

[cbear34]

when was the shift cable replaced last?

5th season for me and I have not replaced it. Don't know when it was or if it was replaced. My guess just replace the shift cable?

[180shabah]

lower shift cable is probably stretched and can't be adjusted properly - replacement is most likely in your future...

[cbear34]

lower shift cable is probably stretched and can't be adjusted properly - replacement is most likely in your future...

Correction on my part. I replaced the lower shift cable 4 years ago. Going to check the adjustment.

[cbear34]

Thanks for the help. Yesterday checked the shift cable and it was out of adjustment, 1/8". Adjusted it according to the Mecruiser manual and works great with no problems.