Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

[barrelback]

Situation- gear shift cable engages neutral, frwd & rev when moved by hand BUT when connected
1) kill switch doesn't move (kill switch can be moved by hand&works) when control is moved, AND
2) adjusting anchors only permits neutral-frwd OR neutral-rev (NO kill switch movement).

QUESTIONS- What are the correct dimentions from anchor(s) to adjustment anchor(s) AND
how is it adjusted to the "sweetspot" so neutal-frwd AND neutral-rev works WITH the kill switch

HELP!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

unless your doing this in the water, with the engine running, drive in fwd or rev, the switch will not operate on land.
There are no adjustments to have it activate. prop torque causes tension on the gearset when coming out of gear,thats what activates
the switch to momentarily stall the motor or interupt the ignition circuit.

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

Get the proper manual and do the adjustment procedure. The measurements for the cable/barrels, cut out are there step by step, and go from there.

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

thx

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

Stinger outdrive control cable adjustment
1. Remove both cables from the shift plate. For the moment ignore the remote control cable.

2. While turning the prop CCW, push the lower shift cable FULLY in.

3. With the prop held CCW release the lower shift cable. Measure (and adjust, if necessary, the brass barrel ONLY) to achieve a measurement of EXACTLY 6" from the centre of the hole in the end of the plastic slide to the centre of the brass barrel.

This is the ONLY adjustment to the lower shift cable AND DO NOT CHANGE IT AFTER THIS!!!

On the shift plate loosen the nut on the back of the stud that the plastic slide of the lower shift cable goes on. Push the stud to the lower end of the slot and retighten the nut.

Now without pulling the lower shift cable (it's best if there is some load on the prop in the CCW direction) put it in position on the shift plate.

Put the lock pin in across the brass barrel and the nyloc nut on the stud. Don't tighten the nut down onto the slide, it should be just loose enough to allow movement, maybe .005".

This has the drive locked in the fully forward gear and the shift plate also in forward.

Move the control box to the WOT forward gear position. Offer up the remote control cable to its position on the shift plate.

Adjust the brass barrel on the remote cable so the positioning is right, then turn the brass barrel 4 turns away from the end of the cable and put it on the shift plate. Job finished....


Stinger outdrive control cable adjustment 2nd option

The adjustment procedures with the engine running (as opposed to having someone turn the prop).

Pushed in the (lower) shift cable until a good, firm ka-chunk as it shifted into forward.

pre-adjust the shift cable six inches center to center.

With stick in the forward detent, adjusted the (upper) control cable barrel until it slipped right on--ignoring the part about moving the barrel four turns away from the end.

Without having to mess with the slotted adjustment nut, it should "clunk" firmly into forward and reverse at the detents with no clackity clackity.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

Stinger outdrive control cable adjustment
1. Remove both cables from the shift plate. For the moment ignore the remote control cable.

2. While turning the prop CCW, push the lower shift cable FULLY in.

3. With the prop held CCW release the lower shift cable. Measure (and adjust, if necessary, the brass barrel ONLY) to achieve a measurement of EXACTLY 6" from the centre of the hole in the end of the plastic slide to the centre of the brass barrel.

This is the ONLY adjustment to the lower shift cable AND DO NOT CHANGE IT AFTER THIS!!!

On the shift plate loosen the nut on the back of the stud that the plastic slide of the lower shift cable goes on. Push the stud to the lower end of the slot and retighten the nut.

Now without pulling the lower shift cable (it's best if there is some load on the prop in the CCW direction) put it in position on the shift plate.

Put the lock pin in across the brass barrel and the nyloc nut on the stud. Don't tighten the nut down onto the slide, it should be just loose enough to allow movement, maybe .005".

This has the drive locked in the fully forward gear and the shift plate also in forward.

Move the control box to the WOT forward gear position. Offer up the remote control cable to its position on the shift plate.

Adjust the brass barrel on the remote cable so the positioning is right, then turn the brass barrel 4 turns away from the end of the cable and put it on the shift plate. Job finished....


Stinger outdrive control cable adjustment 2nd option

The adjustment procedures with the engine running (as opposed to having someone turn the prop).

Pushed in the (lower) shift cable until a good, firm ka-chunk as it shifted into forward.

pre-adjust the shift cable six inches center to center.

With stick in the forward detent, adjusted the (upper) control cable barrel until it slipped right on--ignoring the part about moving the barrel four turns away from the end.

Without having to mess with the slotted adjustment nut, it should "clunk" firmly into forward and reverse at the detents with no clackity clackity.

Ayuh,... Donno where ya found that, but you Don't have an OMC Stringer drive....

This should cover Your drive...

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

but you Don't have an OMC Stringer drive....

I almost got caught on that one too. He has a Stinger, not Stringer

Here are the shift cable adjustment procedures from the manual that bond-o linked you too. It'll save you a bit of searching.

View attachment Shift cable adjust #6.pdf

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

re: but you Don't have an OMC Stringer drive....
Right.
Plan to use:

16. Remote Control with Single Lever Shift/
Throttle Control:
a. RIGHT HAND (RH) propeller rotation drive
unit-Shift remote control into reverse gear,
wide open throttle position while
simultaneously rotating propeller shaft
clockwise. Clutch should engage and cause
propeller shaft to lock. If clutch does not
engage, loosen adjustable stud on shift lever
and move it upward in slot until clutch
engages with reverse gear.

The Stinger's Alpha One (1987) doesn't have this-

Manual#6- 5. Ensure shift lever adjustable stud is at bottom of
slot.

There's no slot. Post is fixed?!

 

[Pete104]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

You aren't even close!
If the drive is already installed, rotate the prop CCW till it locks. Keep pressure on it (bungy cord). Get in the boat. Gently pull the brass barrel & cable out of the saddle. Back the stainless tube w/barrel & JAM nut out a couple turns. Now turn that stainless tube back into the cable until it stops. If it takes to much effort, the threads are shot. If it turns smooth, great. Now, thread the JAM nut towards the cable hsg. Tighten JAM nut against the cable, fresh pair of pliers & 7/16" wrench. With prop still locked, set the barrel & cable end to spec. I like 5 7/8" without the shift assist.
The slot your looking for is the stud with the hex on it where the front of the cable fastens. It looks OK in the pic. I wouldn't change it.
Once the the cable end is secured properly go ahead and remove the bungy cord. Shift it by hand & feel the prop. Before you fasten that cable, remove the remote cable. Fasten the intermediate cable according to spec. THAT MEANS DON'T OVERTIGHTEN ANYTHING! THESE ARE ALL PIVOT POINTS! Once you have the intermediate cable secure, now turn the plastic barrel whatever direction so just slides onto the posts. Effortlessly! Just falls in there. Should be good to go!

Don't loose the spacer for the brass barrel. Should have brought that up before. There is a sleeve/spacer to remove slop & still be a pivot point.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

1. You DO NOT have a Stinger Alpha I outdrive, you have a Stinger boat. The outdrive is a Mercruiser Alpha I manufactured by Mercruiser, not Stinger.
Stinger like every other boat manufacturer buys their engine/drive combinations from an engine and drive company. Like Mercruiser
2. Your boat may be a 1987, but from what I see of the pictures of the shift plate, the engine and drive may be 86. Not uncommon in boats. In 87, Merc started using a shift assist spring on the shift cable, that you don't have.

Do you by chance have the Mercruiser serial number for the engine and the outdrive? That would help.

On your shift plate, I see a spacer was added where there once was a spring and washer. Pete mentioned the spacer, without it, there is no way you will get the drive to shift in both forward and reverse.
Below is a picture of your shift plate, the spacer is item 26 at the top. 10 and 27 is the spring and washer you are missing. The spacer looks like a short piece of tubing about 3/4" long. Do you have that spacer.

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

To be clear: I should say, this is a 1987 Stinger 202 WITH a 1986 Alpha 1 outdrive repowered from the original Mercruiser V-6 TO a 1978 Chevy small block 350 (not a factory Mercruiser) which has some Mercuriser parts (Thunderbolt lV ignition/Mercruiser wiring etc) bolted on.

I will add the (illustration's) spring 27, washer 10 & spacer 26 to the #2 stud on the top stud of the shift plate top while removing the "collar" that was added.

10, 26 & 27 weren't on this shift plate when I bought the boat which probably accounts for the close but not right shifting issues. Onward.

Next workday is Tuesday. Plan to report back after with progress report. Thanks for the help.

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

Sea-trials 1 (grade C), Sea-trials 2 (grade B)- Added the (illustration's) spring 27, washer 10 & spacer 26 to the #2 stud. Shift plate is now IAW the illustration.

Control lever shifts outdrive into forward, neutral & reverse pretty well. I copied the directions above following them exactly. I repeated all steps carefully 3 times hoping to improve both frwd & rev engagement.

While it goes in frwd, nurl & rev, I'd like to take slack out of the travel. Now, when moving from neutral to frwd the selector passes the detent and engages just as the RPM comes off idle. 1/2" sooner would be nice. Reverse engages a fraction later as the RPM comes off idle. I'd like both frwd & rev to engage BEFORE the engine leaves idle.

Putting the outdrive in forward with a bundge holding CCW pressure on the prop, I backed the hex nut off and (easily) turn several turns out on the transmission cable putting light pressure on the cable end and secured the hex nut per instructions.
I experimented setting transmission cable barrel at both 5 7/8" & 6"
In each setting above, I experimented setting the control cable (WOT frwd) with & without the 4 turns to the cable end.
With all this said, I can't yet find the sweet spot where the outdrive engages both fwrd & rev just before trottling up. HELP!

 

[Pete104]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

explain what you mean, you experimented setting the control cable (WOT fwrd) with & w/o the 4 turns to the cable end.
We don't need pics of the boat! Post a pic of your control box & the shift bracket again.Are you in or out of the water while "experimenting"?

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

RE: 1986 Alpha l O/D out of the water adjusting/in water for trials

RE: experimented-
1) adjusted shift cable IAW Manual#6, 2A-19 paragraphs#2 and #4,#6, #7, (missed #8, chit) #9 (experimented both with & without the 4 turns searching for sweet spot to no avail.) #10,

#11 (forward in this case is CLOCKWISE) I set the control to frwd-WOT . Is that right or basakwards?!

#12, #13, #15

#16 b (referring back to #11 confusion/ this OD turns clockwise to go forward-so this adjustment should be made with the control in rev-WOT?!

#18 a-d with "a" one of several issues I'm trying to workout.

Thank you in advance for your patience. It is sincerely appreciated.
(going forward, no boat pictures-sorry) Shift plate/cable installation pictures to follow.

 

[achris]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

RE: 1986 Alpha l O/D out of the water adjusting/in water for trials

RE: experimented-
1) adjusted shift cable IAW Manual#6, 2A-19 paragraphs#2 and #4,#6, #7, (missed #8, chit) #9 (experimented both with & without the 4 turns searching for sweet spot to no avail.) #10,

#11 (forward in this case is CLOCKWISE) I set the control to frwd-WOT . Is that right or basakwards?!

#12, #13, #15

#16 b (referring back to #11 confusion/ this OD turns clockwise to go forward-so this adjustment should be made with the control in rev-WOT?!

#18 a-d with "a" one of several issues I'm trying to workout.

Thank you in advance for your patience. It is sincerely appreciated.
(going forward, no boat pictures-sorry) Shift plate/cable installation pictures to follow.

Please stop with the TLAs.. They are confusing and most people (me included) don't understand them...

Don't miss steps in the step up procedure. One thing you haven't checked is for wear/slop in the shifter and upper control cable. You need to measure the travel on the control cable with the shifter in forward and reverse. Also check how much movement is inthe cable. ie push it in and out. If you have a control cable with a worn inner sleeve that would account for it not going into gear until the engine is coming off idle.... Aslo check that your throttle cable is adjusted correctly...

Chris......

 

[barrelback]

Re: Alpha One gear shift cable adjustment (1987)

Please stop with the TLAs..

roger that. I mistakenly thought that would tighten up the back-n-forth

explain what you mean

re adjustments I made "experimenting" trying to dial this shift in. Moving on.

The cable is new. The in-n-out is slight.

throttle cable is adjusted correctly...

roger that, will do.