Can't shift after bellows/lower shift cable change with Bravo 3.

[nytevizion]

After replacing the seals, bellows, lower shift cable and reinstalling the drive, the drive wont shift into forward or reverse. Cable wont move on the engine side but moves freely with drive off.
The cable ball is in the jaws, they were closed. Drive is in neutral as the prop spins freely both ways. Control shifter is neutral, as the boat won't start without that. Attempted to shift while engine is running. The shift mechanism in the stern drive seems to move freely when drive is separated from bell housing. When the drive is separated, the jaws and entire mechanism seem to pull out without much effort releasing the ball as it should.
One attempt, I installed with the drive in reverse gear. I was able to manually push the cable and shift the drive into neutral while engine running. It shifted fairly easy but then was unable to shift out of neutral either direction.
It shifted without issue before attempting this bellows repair. I only changed the cable because it was wearing through the plastic casing near the transom.

I am debating taking the front cover off to inspect the ball detent but like I said, this wasn't an issue before this repair.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[drewm3i]

Please tell me you have the engine running...

 

[nytevizion]

Yes. Engine running.

Inspected the ball detent and cavity. I see a marginally rusty cavity with some minor rust on the lever but it isn't bad. Looks like some water got in there at some point but after cleaning the ball detent, it looked perfect. The cradle on the shift arc seems to be in good shape as well. Lever isn't stuck.

 

[drewm3i]

You can only install the drive in neutral. For installation, take the cable off the bracket.

 

[drewm3i]

It should be so easy to shift that you can do it by hand. *With the engine running at idle.

 

[alldodge]

One attempt, I installed with the drive in reverse gear. I was able to manually push the cable and shift the drive into neutral while engine running. It shifted fairly easy but then was unable to shift out of neutral either direction.

I'm unclear about what is happening here
Question: With drive installed, lower shift cable disconnected from shift plate and motor running. Can you by hand move the lower shift cable in/out and change gears?

 

[nytevizion]

I cannot move the lower shift cable by hand when engine is running.

I've had the drive on and off a few times checking for issues. For one of the attempts, the drive was installed while in reverse gear. I started the engine, and was able to pull the cable by hand into neutral without much effort, as it would normally be, after that it wouldn't move to shift into forward or reverse.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks
Problem has to be in the shift cable install or it's routing.

I installed with the drive in reverse gear.

To install with throttle in reverse should be very difficult. REV requires the cable to be retracted closer to the bell housing. Having it that close it would be extremely difficult if not impossible. REV requires the cable to be inside the opening of the housing

Did you get the right cable?

Don't think a Alpha cable can be installed on a Bravo but lower cable is just easy to do. That is so long as the new went in same as old.

This is how I remove and install old/new cable. Was yours installed same as old so far as routing?

 

[nytevizion]

It should be so easy to shift that you can do it by hand. *With the engine running at idle.

Thanks
Problem has to be in the shift cable install or it's routing.


To install with throttle in reverse should be very difficult. REV requires the cable to be retracted closer to the bell housing. Having it that close it would be extremely difficult if not impossible. REV requires the cable to be inside the opening of the housing

Did you get the right cable?

Don't think a Alpha cable can be installed on a Bravo but lower cable is just easy to do. That is so long as the new went in same as old.

This is how I remove and install old/new cable. Was yours installed same as old so far as routing?

View attachment 383293

Whoa, hold on a second. The installation in reverse gear was just an experiment.
If I remove the drive, the cable moves freely with no binding. Same routing as it was, and the same according to diagrams I have seen.

This is where instruction for this become foggy.
When you remove the drive, the cable literally pulls the shaft and jaws out of the drive. So they're sticking out, with the entire shaft, and I assume this position is reverse. I also assume that it would be slightly inside the bell housing at this point. I also assume the jaws stay closed because of the tight channel surrounding it. When you insert the cable ball and close the jaws, how far in do you push the mechanism? Until the first click as to be in neutral?

 

[alldodge]

ok, were all good. I'm thinking of the way the cable moves and really doesn't matter. You removed and installed drive as per the manual. The Rev was the one that gave me concern

The cable should be able to be moved in/out by hand by push/pull the lower shift cable with motor running. This is not happening so it's in the cable of the drive

 

[nytevizion]

ok, were all good. I'm thinking of the way the cable moves and really doesn't matter. You removed and installed drive as per the manual. The Rev was the one that gave me concern

The cable should be able to be moved in/out by hand by push/pull the lower shift cable with motor running. This is not happening so it's in the cable of the drive

Thanks for the responses. I'm fried for today. I will investigate further in the morning and post back.

 

[04fxdwgi25]

OK, getting confusing....Installation and removal should be done with shifter neutral. Exerpts from the Bravo manual.....

Removal
1. Shift remote control into neutral.
2. Place the drive unit to the full UP/OUT position.
6. Ensure the shift cable linkage jaws open and release the shift cable end.

Installation:
7. Pull out the shift linkage as far as possible. The jaws will open. Lubricate the underside
of the lower lip of the shift linkage assembly with Quicksilver Special Lubricant 101.
8. Ensure that shift lever is in the neutral position.
IMPORTANT: As you are inserting the sterndrive unit into the bell housing, the entrance of the bell housing shift cable must be closely checked to ensure that the cable enters the Jaws of the shift linkage assembly in the sterndrive unit.
NOTE: As the shift cable enters the shift linkage assembly, it pushes the assembly back into
the drive shaft housing and the jaw closes securing the cable as shown in a, b and c (below).

 

[dubs283]

I'm think this is an aftermarket lower cable?

Is the lower cable routed proper?

 

[nytevizion]

I'm think this is an aftermarket lower cable?

Is the lower cable routed proper?

Yes, the previous posts mention the routing. Just like the image.
It is also an aftermarket cable. According to the seller's page, many have been purchased with good reviews. Of course, I probably got the bad one. As stated before, the cable moves freely. Much easier than the one that was replaced.
Going to do more investigating now.

 

[dubs283]

Replace the cable with oem. Install and adjust properly, then report any issues

 

[nytevizion]

Replace the cable with oem. Install and adjust properly, then report any issues

That would be my next step except now the linkage wont retract to get the cable out of the jaws. Stuck in neutral? Turning the input shaft doesn't seem to help.
I've had the drive off a few times, this wasn't an issue before. Now I'm really stuck.

 

[dubs283]

Have you partially/fully disassembled the drive shaft housing?

 

[nytevizion]

Have you partially/fully disassembled the drive shaft housing?

Not sure what you mean. If you mean taking the actual drive apart, no.
I've only looked inside the front compartment for the ball detent. Cleaned it up and greased it. Looked to be in good shape. The lever seems to move freely.
The drive is separated from the bell housing currently, but now the link bar wont slide out at all.

 

[dubs283]

I cannot any more fully explain post #17 other than it's statement

Sounds as you have had the rear cover off? Inspected/cleaned the linkage end and detent? Any water/corrosion present?

 

[nytevizion]

I cannot any more fully explain post #17 other than it's statement

Sounds as you have had the rear cover off? Inspected/cleaned the linkage end and detent? Any water/corrosion present?

Then no, only the rear cover.
No water present, but there is rust forming on the surfaces. Cleaned and greased.