1972 fiberform cabin cruiser help!!

[72fiberform]

Finally got the motor running perfect hooked up the muffs and now it won't spin the prop forward or reverse. The shift goes 3/4 of the way down then revs up but won't shift into gear??? I lowered the prop all the way down before I tried.

 

[southkogs]

What kinda' drive we talkin' 'bout here?

Welcome aboard.

 

[72fiberform]

Have no clue. All I know it's a 1972 fiberform cabin cruiser with a 302 ford.

 

[72fiberform]

Keep trying to upload a pic but it says invalid file data.

 

[72fiberform]

This is the boat

 

[southkogs]

Picture is too small to tell, but I think it might be a Mercruiser. Drives of that era shift differently (considerably) manufacturer to manufacturer. You had to post 3 times before you could upload an image. See if you can post a larger image of the drive.

 

[72fiberform]

OK will do. Yes it is a mercruiser. Thanks.

 

[GA_Boater]

Gonna move this into the Mercruiser section.

The shifting should complete, in gear, before the motor begins to rev. You may have shaft cable issues. I can't help with that, but the M/C guys should be able to help.

 

[Grub54891]

Some have a button on the shift handle for neutral only. Located at the bottom of the shifter where it pivots. It could be stuck. Some you have to pull out towards you to get neutral. It could be stuck out. Lust look closely at the shifter, wiggle it and look for the button, or see if it pushes in.

 

[72fiberform]

Some have a button on the shift handle for neutral only. Located at the bottom of the shifter where it pivots. It could be stuck. Some you have to pull out towards you to get neutral. It could be stuck out. Lust look closely at the shifter, wiggle it and look for the button, or see if it pushes in.

Here's the shifter in my boat.

 

[72fiberform]

So that black button is a neutral switch also?? I thought it just released the control. Sorry for stupid questions.

 

[mjf55]

So it looks like this control here, discussed on iBoats. You need to pull the level out (perpendicular to the forward / back travel ) to get to neutral.
You may need to take it apart to see what is happening.
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...ves/644238-mercontrol-shift-throttle-question

 

[72fiberform]

Awesome! I'm going to adjust the cables and see what happens. I think there's a video on YouTube that's show how.

 

[bbook83]

Before you start adjusting the cables, I would verify the operation of the control. You do not pull the lever out to operate the throttle only in neutral. You push the black button in and push the lever forward to throttle up without shifting. When you pull the lever back into the neutral position, when it clicks into the neutral detent the black button will come back out and forward or back movement will now operate the shift cable before engaging the throttle cable. If you do decide to take the control apart, be careful, as there are springs and the detent ball that may pop out of place.

 

[72fiberform]

So your saying I should just push it forward or back without even pressing the black button? I'll be going home on Sunday to try everything I learn. Thanks!!

 

[bbook83]

For actual operation intended to put the outdrive in forward or reverse, you push the lever forward or back from the neutral position. You only push the black button in if you want to throttle up (like when warming up the engine) without leaving neutral. The black button disengages the plate inside the control that would otherwise operate the shift cable, so that you can operate the throttle only when you push the lever forward with the black button in.

 

[72fiberform]

Thanks for all the info bbook83!! I'll post Sunday when I try it.

 

[72fiberform]

She's alive boys!!!!! Shifted her the right way and she runs smooth!! Thanks bbooks83!!!!