[deerhound]

Can anyone please give me correct procedure to adjust shift cable to allow engine to go into reverse, new cables have been fitted, I screwed adjuster on cable 3 turns and it ran in reverse on muffs but will not engage in water, it does engage by hand when cable is taken off, control box is original OMC with electric start and choke, I don't want to muck up anything and take out forward gear as we are sweltering here in Scotland in 25c and really enjoying my boating, I have 2 clymer manuals but find them complicated, many thanks JBD

[Dhadley]

The first thing to verify is the shift rod height. If that's off it'll be very difficult to get the linkage working correctly.

Once we verify the shift rod height we need to look at the cable attachment. Since the cables are new we'll assume they are not stretched and are attached correctly. Generally you put the linkage on the motor in neutral and center the cable on that. You can then shift the motor manually and then shift the control box, both forward and reverse, and verift that the cable is mating at that point.

[Silvertip]

Here's another technique. Disconnect the cable at the shift linkage on the engine. Place the shift lever on the engine in neutral and the lever on the control box in neutral. Gently push and pull on the end of the shift cable. If there seems to be excessive slop you need to figure out what's going on as any adjustment of the cable will not solve the problem. If there is no slop, bring the end of the cable up to its attachment point on the shift lever. If the two do not line up exactly, turn the trunion (threaded adjuster) on the cable one way or the other until the two points line up exactly. DO NOT move anything to make the connection. If the two don't line up you need to adjust the trunion and only the trunion. Connect the cable and try it. If it still doesn't go into reverse either the shift rod is misadjusted or something is amiss in the control box or lower unit. Adjusting the cable so you can get into reverse will only create a problem getting into forward so if the above procedure doesn't work, you need to look elsewhere for the problem.