shift cable adjustment

[smithrock]

I have a 1985 Mercruiser Alpha 1 drive, now for the stupid part of the question: what is the difference between the upper shift cable (if thats what it is) and the lower one?
The top cable has a plastic barrel and lower has a brass barrel are they both to adjusted at 6"?
In looking at the manual,(mercruiser) the pics look to go back and forth between the top cable and the lower.

Which one do I need to adjust to 6"? and what adjustment needs to be made to the other one?

I've tried adjusting both to who knows what. I'm lost and confused at this point! I'f someone could give me a basic answer in simple English (so I understand) that would be great!

 

[Don S]

Re: shift cable adjustment

The upper shift cable goes from the engine to the helm control
The lower goes from the engine to the drive.

READ the OEM instructions, all of them, don't just look at a couple of pictures and think you understand it, cause you don't. From pages 2A-18 to 2A-24.
Follow it step by step and it will work

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A2R3.PDF

 

[smithrock]

Re: shift cable adjustment

Okay, I printed them out and will try tomorrow. In the manual, it doesn't mention a plastic barrel, just brass. does it make a difference?

 

[RJLeuwen]

Re: shift cable adjustment

You will have a brass barrel on the lower cable, and most likely a plastic barrel on the upper cable.

they (Mercruiser) use to put a brass barrel on both cables, back in the late 70's and early 80's

doesn't change the cable adjustment procedure.

RJ

 

[smithrock]

Re: shift cable adjustment

Well, I got it to go into forward. But the throttle now is 1/2 to 3/4 in the forward position before it engages. Which leaves very little forward movement for WOT. Now what?

 

[RJLeuwen]

Re: shift cable adjustment

Why are you adjusting the cables in the first place?

Did you replace either one of them?


RJ

 

[smithrock]

Re: shift cable adjustment

No, I never had them totally adjusted. The guy I bought it from had the shift interrupt switch disconnected so i fixed that and got it working last summer. I had the cables correctly adjusted last summer for awhile but did some engine stuff and had to disconnect things. And now I can't seem to get correctly adjusted. It looks like the lower shift cable was replaced not to long ago. The cable are bit long, so I'm trying to find the best way to route them.

 

[smithrock]

Re: shift cable adjustment

Well, I did follow the intructions on the link, and now the upper shift cable does not engage going forward until half way to WOT. Which doesn't leave really any room for acceleration. What should I do now? Or what did I do wrong?

 

[smithrock]

Re: shift cable adjustment

Also, can the cables be lubed? How much slack should they have?