Bravo 3 stuck in reverse

[KD4UPL]

I have a 2004 Rinker with a Merc Mag 350 and a B3. I was manuvering at idle speed around the dock. I shifted to reverse briefly. I then shifted to forward but it remained in reverse. No amount of moving the shift lever would change that. I had to turn the engine off to get the boat stopped. With the control lever in neutral the engine started but it was still in reverse.
My control lever operates normally. The cables on top of the engine seem to be operating properly. Nothing looks broken or in a bind.
From some reading it seams that maybe there is a "ball detent" in the drive that is out of it's spot. Supposedly you just remove the top cover and easily put it back where it goes.
Is this something I could do easily with the drive on and boat on a trailer? Do I have to drain the drive lube?
Any other ideas?
Thanks,

 

[dubs283]

Possible the lower shift cable is broken and won't shift the drive out of reverse. Possible the shift linkage arm between the cable and shift shaft is broken/failed. Possible the cone clutch is stuck in the reverse gear cup.....lots of possibilities.

Time to pull the drive and inspect. How often do you remove the drive for service/inspection?

 

[KD4UPL]

The drive was just removed last spring and all the bellows replaced as well as a new lower shift cable installed. This was done by a shop and everything was working well after that. When this happened Sunday I dropped the boat off at the same shop hoping they could fix it. Pulling the drive is a bit more than I want to get into personally. If I can just remove the top cover and get to something I'd be up for trying that. I really want to have it fixed by July 4th weekend and I'm not sure the shop has the time to get it by then.

 

[dubs283]

If I can just remove the top cover and get to something I'd be up for trying that.

Removing just the top cover, and even the rear won't give you a full picture of the entire shifting system. Drive needs to come off first in order to properly troubleshoot the issue.

If the shop recently did a shift cable and you are now experiencing shifting issues you should demand expedited service. Or they should be reputable enough to offer it/look at the issue immediately

 

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

Any other ideas?

If it were my boat, I would FIRST detach the lower shift cable from the shift plate and try to manually shift in and out of gears. If you can successfully shift manually (holding the outer sleeve with the left hand while pulling the wire core assembly with the right hand), then this is an indication that you might just need to adjust the shift cables.

 

[dubs283]

this is an indication that you might just need to adjust the shift cables.

Would hope the shop that recently replaced the shift cable would have adjusted it. Bravo lower shift cables are fairly easy to set up properly with the right tools, much easier than an alpha

 

[KD4UPL]

So the shop said the lower shift cable was binding up. It wasn't broken but he said it wasn't "getting the kind of motion it needed." They replaced it and also changed the routing. Since it was new 15 months ago they didn't charge me any labor, just for the cable. That seems pretty decent to me. And, the boat is fixed already so I can still use it on the July 4th weekend.

 

[dubs283]

So the shop said the lower shift cable was binding up......wasn't "getting the kind of motion it needed." They replaced it and also changed the routing.... That seems pretty decent to me.

Not me.

The routing of the lower shift cable is important. If routed incorrect there's the possibility of engine coupler severely wearing the cable and right quick too among other possibilities including your shifting issue. Once, I had a come back and the mess was striking...

If I were in your place I would ask the shop if they use oem parts or otherwise and to please see/inspect the replaced cable assy. There are some boat parts you just can't skimp on

 

[KD4UPL]

He stated they always use OEM Mercruiser parts. I guess any manufacturer can make a bad part once in a while.
The total cost for the cable was less than $170.

 

[alldodge]

If it were my boat, I would FIRST detach the lower shift cable from the shift plate and try to manually shift in and out of gears. If you can successfully shift manually (holding the outer sleeve with the left hand while pulling the wire core assembly with the right hand), then this is an indication that you might just need to adjust the shift cables.

Do remember this if it ever happens again

I'm glad they didn't try to make it your fault and get more then the cable, but that said, they should have paid for everything. Hope it dioesn't give you anymore trouble

 

[dubs283]

I guess any manufacturer can make a bad part once in a while.

But the person installing it varies

 

[KD4UPL]

So, to update my own old thread . . .
The boat has shifted just fine since the new shift cable was installed last year until this past Saturday. It would go in an out of reverse just fine but not forward. It would take 2 or 3 attempts at moving the lever forward for it to go into gear. This happened a couple times trying to maneuver around the dock.
On Sunday morning we got in the boat to leave the dock and I had to try 2 or 3 times again before it would engage forward. Once it did it ran great. The next time I tried to put it in forward it would not go. I had to get towed back to the dock.
I disconnected the cable from the bracket and shoved it by hand as far as it would go. It went fairly easily but the boat did not go into forward gear.
I dropped it back to the same mechanic who fixed it last time and left a message. Hopefully this time the whole repair is free.