shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

kryan2 · Nov 23, 2008

1986 Sportcraft 222 Family Walkaround Fisherman with a 305 and Alpha drive. Single shifter.

OK...Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the boat shifted fine in the water...forward, neutral, reverse numerous times while fishing and docking. Thursday I changed my manifolds and risers which had me disconnect the entire shifting mechanism from the starboard riser. Monday I finished the install of risers and manifolds.

Tuesday we took the boat out and now it is SUPER hard to shift in forward gear. We had to actually shift it by hand from the motor (2 people required, once at helm and one at motor) I really had to jerk the shifter to move it.
Once it was in forward, the throttle was very smooth.

Now it only goes in reverse and once it's in reverse even if I push the shifter into forward gear it's STILL just going in reverse with throttle. Make sense??

I find it hard to believe that the shifter cable went bad overnight....

Any suggestions from the senior boaters out there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance..

Kevin Ryan
Lake Lewisville fisherperson.

meesh · Nov 23, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Just did my mercruiser. Follow the adjustment procedure in the manual. If that does'nt work it's probably time for a new cable, they dont last forever.

chiefalen · Nov 23, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Ether you didn't put the converter back together right, or the cable itself needs a adjustment at the converter.

Or if all else fails a new cable.

I'm betting it's a simple matter of putting the converter back together CORRECTLY.

Question what rpm are you idling at?

You should not be shifting higher than 650-700 rpm.

kryan2 · Nov 23, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Idle is right at 700rpm....the shifter bracket had 3 bolts holding it to the riser. Took the 3 bolts out and put them back in 4 days later.....we did move the bracket around a bit while man handling the manifolds back into place...but something just isn't right.

Don S · Nov 23, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Go to the link below, it's the OEM service manual. Scroll down to the outline page and click on the section you want to save to your computer.
http://www-alt.mercurymarine.com/mnetdata/SERVICE/CRUISER/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

There is a section for troubleshooting, but first, go to section 2A and make sure all your adjustments for the shift cable are done properly.

kryan2 · Nov 23, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Right on......thanks for the link. That manual is fantastic. Is there one for a 1986 Mercruiser 305 283HP motor??

Thanks

Kevin

Bondo · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Ayuh,....

By the sounds of your description,...
You knocked the wires Off the shift switch...
Hook'em back up,+ it'll work Just Fine....

1986 Mercruiser 305 283HP motor manual
Btw,... It's probably more like 185hp,.. maybe 200hp....

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

LOL...I just caught that I typed "283 HP." Right back to the days when I thought I was going 70mph on my old school jet ski.

Thanks for the link and the correction!

Cables are still hooked up on the shifter mechanism bolted to the riser. I'm going to try to adjust the cables via the manual.

Kevin Ryan

Bondo · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Cables are still hooked up on the shifter mechanism bolted to the riser. I'm going to try to adjust the cables via the manual.

Ayuh,....

I'd start with Testing the Wiring....

As well as verifying that the plate is Able to rock,+ activate the Switch....

Cables don't usually just happen to go Out of Adjustment like that....
Even when moving the shift plate around...

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Here is a photo...see anything wrong??

Bondo · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Ayuh,... Nothing jumps right out at me...

But,...
Metering the switch,+ wiring will tell you if they're working,..
'ell,.. Start the motor,+ move the switch,... Does the motor Die,..??

Does the Rocker piece of the shift-plate move Freely,..?? Pictures can't tell Us that...

I'm just Saying,....
The Symptoms you present lead to a Wiring issue,... More so than Cables in My mind...
And,....
By Diagnosing 1st,...
You won't have to go back to Fix what you thought you Fixed before...After....

captk · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Shift interrupter switch has nothing to do with shifting into gear, only out of gear. Did you kink or twist the cables when reattaching the shift bracket? Or is the cable melted where it goes by the exhaust pipe?

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

I dissconected the top cable from the shifter mechanism and then moved the helm throttle/shifter...the cable did not move back at the mechanism. I then tried to push/pull the cable from the mechanism and it moved freely but it didn't move the throttle/shifter.

My conclusion..something happened under the throttle/shifter.

Kevin

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Is there a manual for this type of "control box?"

Where do these manuals come from online?? This way I can look myself...

Thanks for the help!!

Kevin

captk · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

sounds like the cable is broken internally. does the throttle cable move? If you remove the remote control cable from the shift bracket can you shift the drive by moving the lever that the cable was attached to?

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Yes when the top shifter cable is disconnected from the assembly, the throttle cable moves smoothly.

Off subject..the lower shift cable moves very smooth as well when shifted by hand from the assembly.

I need to figure out how to disconnect the cable from the control box....

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

FIXED

The problem was the cable itself...it was disconnected inside the control box. While I was inside the c-box I checked the throttle cable as well and both pulled in and out very smoooooooth. I just connected it back on the "whatever you call that piece" and it's good to go!![/SIZE]

Done....I think it's going to be around 60 or so in DFW tomorrow so, Lake Lewisville here I come!

Thanks for all the help guys!

Kevin

kryan2 · Nov 24, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

CORRECTION!

It's going to be around 70 degrees here.......

Thanks again!

chiefalen · Nov 25, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Glad it's fixed but i don't remember you posting about fiddling with the throttle.

kryan2 · Nov 25, 2008

Re: shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

Sooooooo....it's not fixed! Went on the water today and could not shift into reverse from forward gear. Would not shift into forward from reverse gear.

Want to talk about fustrated....and this time it was my 3yr. old and I alone!!

Called a local marina and the tech walked me through a couple of steps and the conclusion is the neutral safety switch is not moving at all when I shift the control box in forward or reverse gear....but it kills the motor when pressed.

Tech says, "it needs to be adjusted." Do you know what it's like asking your 3yr. old to "push the handle up buddy!!" "go ahead....you won't hurt anything...just push it!" Meanwhile I'm on the phone looking at the shifter mechanism while holding the phone to my ear as the wind is rocking us from side to side....lol!!

I read the manual 4x and still just don't quite get it so tomorrow it's off to a local shop and pay to have it adjusted by a licensed Merc person.

shifter worked on monday..now something is wrong??

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