Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

[pdr1966]

Just finishing up a gimbal bellows/bearing change with a complete new lower shift Cale assembly.
Can someone confirm the correct routing of the cable as it enters the boat from the transom assembly.
I have it going behind the exhaust y-pipe, and up to the shift plate.
I am not getting proper shift interrupt action for reverse, stalls, works correctly for forward.
Wondering if coming forward of the y pipe would be a smoother action for the cable correct the interrupt operation.

Pete

 

[achris]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Until the Gen II drives, there was no documented 'correct path. The best path is the one with the longest smoothest curves. Any sharp direction changes will cause stiffness.... And since the 888 has the shift plate at the back of the engine, not on the starboard exhaust elbow, the gen II drawings are meaningless. Personally, I think the best path is over the exhaust Y-pipe, then up and around the starboard side and up (in front of the pipe) then around to the shift plate...

Chris.....

 

[84EdH]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

I just did my cable and tried a few paths. I think bending up behind the pipe is too sharp a turn. I think the route Chris suggested is good. I do think the Gen2 diagram is usefull though, even though the gen2 shift plate is on the starboard manifold, just follow the same route, but instead of the cable ending at the starboard manifold, just swing it toward port, under your riser elbow, to the shift plate. The drawing is good until that last 90 degree turn toward your rear of the engine shift plate.

try the core in the cable, without connecting to plate, by pushing it in and pulling it out by hand, testing for smooth movement. Then once your satisfied the core moves freely, hook up and do your adjustments .

 

[pdr1966]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Ok, thanks for the diagrams and info.
I will not get back to working on it fr two weeks now, but when I do I'll take tools needed to pull the rear starboard engine mount bolt, so that I don't damage the cable trying to get routed better. Should be abl e to come forward and curve around th nose if the starter drive.
Will post when I have an update
Pete

 

[cr2k]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Just don't let it rest on the Y-pipe or it will melt the housing.

 

[pdr1966]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Ok, I got he cable re routed nicely and have NO improvement.
Works perfectly for forward gear, but the interrupt ACTS while ENTERING reverse no matter what I Try.
I have clear video of both forward acting correctly AND the incorrect action going into reverse.
Any suggestions?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Check out Achris' video on the shift cable:

 

[pdr1966]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Update!
Idle rpm has a major effect on this.
I was idling down around 650, and when I pushed on the throttle to take out the slack and shifted, I found an improvement.
I increased the idle speed to about 750-800 and the interrupt is functioning correctly and I am getting reliable shifts into and out of reverse 9 out of 10 times.
Tomorrow I'm going to go over the barrel positions /measurements and consider it near done.

However, I do have water leaking in when running hard to see, NOT along the drive shaft, but under it.
Going to post on that.

Thanks for comments and help
Peter

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Might have to pull the drive to verify its not a gasket/bellows problem. Othere than that are leaking Y pipe, rotted transom,
hyd block gasket.

 

[pdr1966]

Re: Mercruiser 888 lower shift cable routing

Ok all buttoned up now.
Leak was caused by the large rubber drive seal being pinched.
Fixed that this morning, and all is together and working well.

Ultimately I wasted a lot of time before I realized that RPM actually is a factor in the shift interrupt operation.

Thanks to all following this post

Pete