Increasing travel of remote shift cable

[banderberg]

Stern drive manual says the length of travel between forward and reverse should be 3", plus/minus 1/8". Mine travels 2.75". Close, but not quite in spec. I don't know of any way to change the distance of travel.

 

[kenny nunez]

If you remove your control and look on the inside there should be an additional mounting point for the shift cable.
If yours is a genuine mercruiser control it should have 3” of travel.
Yours is most likely not a mercruiser type.

 

[cyclops222]

Diy save money strikes again.

 

[banderberg]

Diy save money strikes again.

LOL good one I've saved a metric ton of money working on my boat and learned a ton in the process.

 

[banderberg]

If you remove your control and look on the inside there should be an additional mounting point for the shift cable.
If yours is a genuine mercruiser control it should have 3” of travel.
Yours is most likely not a mercruiser type.

Yeah there's a second point, I just put the cable where it was before. I'll look into that. The control itself is a Quicksilver but a very old model. The boat's a '91. Pretty sure it's original..

 

[banderberg]

For anyone that comes across this, my mistake was not putting the drive into forward gear (and reverse), wide open throttle position. When you do that there's about a quarter inch more cable travel.

 

[matt167]

For anyone that comes across this, my mistake was not putting the drive into forward gear (and reverse), wide open throttle position. When you do that there's about a quarter inch more cable travel.

If your throttle effects shift, something is wrong. Your not going to want to use WOT to get your drive to shift

 

[banderberg]

If your throttle effects shift, something is wrong. Your not going to want to use WOT to get your drive to shift

The merc manual specifically says to shift into forward gear in wide open throttle position before setting the barrel on the remote control throttle cable.

 

[matt167]

The merc manual specifically says to shift into forward gear in wide open throttle position before setting the barrel on the remote control throttle cable.

That is to make sure it’s clicked in for adjustment. If the shift lever actually moves after the detent for forward, something is sloppy in the shifter.

Put the shifter in forward. Measure and adjust lower shift cable to 6”. Install in shift plate. Put upper shift cable in holder/ adjust to fit. Turn 2 to 4 turns back and put it in the holder. Check operation.

 

[cyclops222]

Why I like this site and most people trying to help !!

 

[banderberg]

That is to make sure it’s clicked in for adjustment. If the shift lever actually moves after the detent for forward, something is sloppy in the shifter.

Put the shifter in forward. Measure and adjust lower shift cable to 6”. Install in shift plate. Put upper shift cable in holder/ adjust to fit. Turn 2 to 4 turns back and put it in the holder. Check operation.

Thanks, I have one of the lower shift cables where the barrel isn't adjustable. It measures about 6 1/4".

What do you suggest if the shifter is sloppy?

 

[matt167]

Thanks, I have one of the lower shift cables where the barrel isn't adjustable. It measures about 6 1/4".

What do you suggest if the shifter is sloppy?

I had a similar issue. My old mercontrol was literally opening the throttle with a forward shift, so I replaced it