Alpha One 3.0 Grinds Before Shifting Into Forward Gear

[natispotatis]

Hi, I have an '85 Four Winns with a 3.0L Mercruiser Alpha One. My problem is that when I shift into forward gear, there is a grinding noise for about a second before it clunks into gear. The engine just starts to rev at that point, too, making for a hard shift into gear. I have no problems with reverse--it goes straight into gear. Also, I'm not positive, since I just bought the boat, but it may shift into forward easier when the outdrive is trimmed up a bit, like when trailering the boat.

Is this a shift cable adjustment? Should I just install a new shift cable? Or is this something inside the outdrive? I'm about to winterize the boat and might be able to work on this during the off-season. I do have a manual and a fair mechanical aptitude.

Thanks for your insight.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Alpha One 3.0 Grinds Before Shifting Into Forward Gear

Hi, I have an '85 Four Winns with a 3.0L Mercruiser Alpha One. My problem is that when I shift into forward gear, there is a grinding noise for about a second before it clunks into gear. The engine just starts to rev at that point, too, making for a hard shift into gear. I have no problems with reverse--it goes straight into gear. Also, I'm not positive, since I just bought the boat, but it may shift into forward easier when the outdrive is trimmed up a bit, like when trailering the boat.

Is this a shift cable adjustment? Should I just install a new shift cable? Or is this something inside the outdrive? I'm about to winterize the boat and might be able to work on this during the off-season. I do have a manual and a fair mechanical aptitude.

Thanks for your insight.

This is normal and most the time all you need to do is adjust the shift cable. If after adjusting you still have issues then you may want to replace the lower cable.

Go to the top of this section in the Adults only section and then select Mercruiser. In there is all the info you need to adjust and repair.

Good luck

 

[dn010]

Re: Alpha One 3.0 Grinds Before Shifting Into Forward Gear

It depends: if your shifting slow - it will grind. If you shift fast like sort of slam the handle into gear and it grinds, you'll need to look into adjusting it or replacing the lower cable at least.

I'm sure others may have the proper information but I've heard that running while your drive is trimmed all the way up will damage your u-joints...

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Alpha One 3.0 Grinds Before Shifting Into Forward Gear

Normal is in someone's perception. Mine is that this is not normal. The revs shouldn't increase until forward or reverse is fully engaged. Even if you are a slow shifter, which will cause grinding, the revs should not increase until it clunks into gear as you advance the throttle. There is a "dead" time after the boat shifts into gear before the revs go up as the handle is moved to throttle up.

Check the cable adjustment as recommended above and shift with a quick movement into gear. Hope this helps.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha One 3.0 Grinds Before Shifting Into Forward Gear

Normal is in someone's perception. Mine is that this is not normal. The revs shouldn't increase until forward or reverse is fully engaged. Even if you are a slow shifter, which will cause grinding, the revs should not increase until it clunks into gear as you advance the throttle. There is a "dead" time after the boat shifts into gear before the revs go up as the handle is moved to throttle up.

Check the cable adjustment as recommended above and shift with a quick movement into gear. Hope this helps.

Ayuh,..... Exactly,... There should be "Dead" travel, 'tween shiftin', 'n the throttle advancin',...

Sounds like a mis-adjusted, or failin' lower shift cable to me,...

 

[dozerII]

Re: Alpha One 3.0 Grinds Before Shifting Into Forward Gear

You say you just bought the boat, unless you got a maintenance history on the boat, you will want to pull the outdrive to check all the bellows, gimble bearing , u joints and engine alignment. That will give you a real good idea on whether the shift cable need adjustment or replacing.