Just found this older topic from a search. First day (one of the happiest days right?) with our “new”, $5000 1999 Crownline 202BR. It’s in really good shape for a 27-year-old boat. 450 hours. The boat is almost unusable because the shifter is so stiff. Have done this so far:
Disconnected the shift assist- way easier to shift but a bit difficult to find neutral.
Disconnected the shifter completely at the engine and shifted by hand, engine running, using the linkage next to the carburetor. “Clunked” into forward and reverse nicely but was hard to get back to neutral from forward or reverse.
Testing the shifter alone with cables disconnected and engine off- if I provided any resistance at all (similar to the shift assist), it was nearly impossible for my wife to overcome my resistance using the shift lever.
Judging by the ghost on the upholstery, the original control was replaced with an oval shaped one that looks like a Quicksilver. No idea when. When shifting by hand with the cable disconnected, engine running, it was pretty hard to find neutral and actually land in the neutral zone. It wanted to go to the opposite gear rather than landing in neutral and it took a fair amount of force to get out of forward or reverse. Clunked in gear easily but came out hard. I’m a mechanic but in 40 years of messing with boats, I have very little experience with bad shifters and lower units so I don’t know if what I’m feeling is good or bad. Maybe just needs another shifter. Any comments or suggestions and thanks in advance for any help.
Disconnected the shift assist- way easier to shift but a bit difficult to find neutral.
Disconnected the shifter completely at the engine and shifted by hand, engine running, using the linkage next to the carburetor. “Clunked” into forward and reverse nicely but was hard to get back to neutral from forward or reverse.
Testing the shifter alone with cables disconnected and engine off- if I provided any resistance at all (similar to the shift assist), it was nearly impossible for my wife to overcome my resistance using the shift lever.
Judging by the ghost on the upholstery, the original control was replaced with an oval shaped one that looks like a Quicksilver. No idea when. When shifting by hand with the cable disconnected, engine running, it was pretty hard to find neutral and actually land in the neutral zone. It wanted to go to the opposite gear rather than landing in neutral and it took a fair amount of force to get out of forward or reverse. Clunked in gear easily but came out hard. I’m a mechanic but in 40 years of messing with boats, I have very little experience with bad shifters and lower units so I don’t know if what I’m feeling is good or bad. Maybe just needs another shifter. Any comments or suggestions and thanks in advance for any help.
