Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

[ExUSCG-QM]

I have a 18'-4" 1987 Imperial with a 3.0L GM and Alpha1 drive. I've had the boat for three years and don't know any of the service history on it.

Last season she began stalling when going into reverse. Through reading the posts I figured it was time to replace the lower shift cable. With my new job I had to put it on a storage lot and it's sat there from April-August this summer. I brought it home yesterday and it fired up on the second try! However, it wont shift into Forward or Reverse at all.

I have disconnected the lower shift cable from the shift plate to see if there's something wrong with the morse controls. The morse control shifts forward and back with no problem. The prop spins freely both ways without any noise or resistance. My questions are......

1. Could the lower shift cable be in such poor shape that it will not allow the unit to shift at all? I am pushing the throttle pretty hard and it wont budge either way.
2. Step #1 in "removing the out drive" is to put in Forward. Is there a way to manually do this at the out drive?
3. Am I overlooking something simple?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

Disconnect the lower shift cable and see if you can manually shift it - push on the cable while a helper turns the prop counter-clockwise. (Engine off of course! ) The prop should lock into gear. The cable should move smoothly. If it doesn't, then you need to replace the cable.

The unit needs to be in forward gear to remove the outdrive - unless you remove the lower unit first, and then remove the top half.

 

[drkaras]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

Are you able to move the lower shift cable by hand when it is disconnected? It should move fairly freely. The shift lever to the lower unit is at te front of the outdrive between the trim cylinders. If you push it all the way starboard, it should be in forward gear. However, if your cable is really stuck, you may not be able to do it until you pull the outdrive.

 

[ExUSCG-QM]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

The cable wont move in or out by hand.

The shift lever on the lower unit is all the way to port (neutral? I though that would be reverse). How much force should I have to use to swith it over to stbd? I have the cable disconnected at the engine and tried using a screw driver to pry it over, but no movement.

 

[drkaras]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

If the cable is bound up, I am not sure that you will be able to force it from the lower unit. It may be time to pull the outdrive and replace the shift cable. With the outdrive off, you should to be able to go in and out of gear without difficulty.

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

The shift lever on the lower unit is all the way to port (neutral? I though that would be reverse).

All the way to port is Reverse, straight fore and aft is Fwd gear.
You must be in forward so the upper and lower shift shafts will come apart without bending one or the other.
Just dropping the lower unit gets the lower shift shaft out of the way, then pull the upper without worry.

 

[ExUSCG-QM]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

What fun way to spend a hot sunny Sunday in NC!

I used a bar to force the shift shaft to center line. That freed the cable to allow movement forward and back and allowed it to engage into Forward gear, but not reverse. When I have the throttle in neutral the shift shaft is over to port and the prop free-wheels.

If port is reverse, do I have a bigger problem or should I just shift it into Forward (now that I can) and replace the Lower Shift Cable and see if that fixes the problem?

Thanks to all of you for working on a Sunday with me

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha1 - Will not shift into Forward or Reverse

Have to start be removing the drive to see whats binding.