MC1 Shift Cable Pre Alpha

[BigWeakSauce]

Good Evening and Happy Easter. I went to install my new shift cable inner core today and after inserting it all the way into the jacket it seems like the inner core is too long. When I put the plastic mounting end on and tightened the set screw I was several inches from being able to get the 6" or so needed for alignment.
Are these things meant to be trimmed to fit the application or should it fit perfectly right out of the box? Hoping to know before I damage a bran new cable.

 

[Bt Doctur]

DO NOT CUT THE CORE ,it is the correct size. Review your installation
You are using the new style correct, aft entry

 

[BigWeakSauce]

DO NOT CUT THE CORE ,it is the correct size. Review your installation
You are using the new style

DO NOT CUT THE CORE ,it is the correct size. Review your installation
You are using the new style correct, aft entry
View attachment 337028

So heres the thing... I'm picking up where the shop gave up. They bought the cable and installed the jacket before breaking my gimbal ring during bearing removal... they threaded from the FORE side, or inside where the bellows are. They did not retap the hole. They had the inner core connected to the shifter mechanism via set screw when I got it back, so all I did was thread the inner from the AFT back into the hull, jumped in the boat to install that plastic piece, and realized the inner core diameter was too large to fit in the retainer where the set screw threads through the plastic shift plate mount. So I drilled that tiny hole a bit wider, but that was my first clue that the inner might not be right, perhaps meant for Alpha 1, or something.
I dont see any way to shorten the distance between the brass spindle piece and the mountig hole without trimming that inner core down, brass piece is threaded all the way down the shaft as close as possible and we're at about 7".

 

[achris]

As already said, DO NOT CUT THE INNER CORE!
The inner and the jacket are exactly the right size, if installed correctly.

Several questions...
1. Are the inner and jacket both new, and form the same packet?
2. What do you mean by 'and realized the inner core diameter was too large to fit in the retainer where the set screw threads through the plastic shift plate mount.'. That doesn't make any sense. Yes sometimes it's tight, but I have never had to re-engineer anything. Maybe the locking anchor was cocked over a little, or the set screws needed backing out.
3. Did you thread the hole (in the bell housing) and install the cable jacket from the drive side of the bell housing?
4. Are you using the new cable kit 'engine end' screw in piece?
5. Are you using the new shift slide?

Chris......

 

[BigWeakSauce]

As already said, DO NOT CUT THE INNER CORE!
The inner and the jacket are exactly the right size, if installed correctly.

Several questions...
1. Are the inner and jacket both new, and form the same packet?
2. What do you mean by 'and realized the inner core diameter was too large to fit in the retainer where the set screw threads through the plastic shift plate mount.'. That doesn't make any sense. Yes sometimes it's tight, but I have never had to re-engineer anything. Maybe the locking anchor was cocked over a little, or the set screws needed backing out.
3. Did you thread the hole (in the bell housing) and install the cable jacket from the drive side of the bell housing?
4. Are you using the new cable kit 'engine end' screw in piece?
5. Are you using the new shift slide?

Chris......

Here we go:
1. Inner and jacket both new, I believe they came together in a kit but were separate when I took the boat back.
2. Trying to make sure I use the right terms here but where the set screw threads into the plastic part that mounts to the shift plate (engine end), there is a retainer in the set screw threads into, the retainer has a hole in it to receive the cable. The old cable fits into the retainer but the new cable is too thick and with considerable force wouldn't fit through, after drilling slightly wider, it fits very tightly, hence why I'm considering it's the wrong inner.
3. The shop installed the jacked and threaded from INSIDE the bell housing or from the FORE. I've read several of yours and other threads saying not to do that and just to tap and install the new style, however they did not, they installed the OLD way.
4. It seems to be the old engine end, doesn't look like there was a new engine end plastic piece in my boat, however I'm using the NEW threaded rod with jam nut and brass spindle piece. Perhaps the plastic piece is also new and they tossed the old, but I have a bag of old parts so I doubt it.
5. New shift slide, already fixed via set screw and twisty cable to the inner.

As I'm typing up these responses I'm getting closer and closer to pulling the jacket and starting over with the new style cable and retapping the port for AFT entry, but I really don't want to as the jacket specifically was the part I didnt want to do, and don't want to remove the bellows as that was not a fun job.

 

[achris]

You MUST install the new cables from the drive side of the bell housing. That could well be why the length is wrong. And there will have been a new plastic 'engine end' piece with the new cable, and the anchor (with the set screws in each end, to clamp the core) will be the right size for the new core. You have to use that new section too....

 

[BigWeakSauce]

You MUST install the new cables from the drive side of the bell housing. That could well be why the length is wrong. And there will have been a new plastic 'engine end' piece with the new cable, and the anchor (with the set screws in each end, to clamp the core) will be the right size for the new core. You have to use that new section too....

Thank you sir. I'll lean to yours and BT Doc expertise here and in the meantime I'm trying to get the part number purchased by the shop to confirm what I have here. Looks like I'm in for a redo of this job.

I will say the part that is threaded into the bellows side of the bell housing with the plastic protruding out for the shift slide matches the one they removed, so somehow they got a duplicate of that, but that doesn't necessarily mean the jacket and inner were made for that style.

 

[Bt Doctur]

A bellows entry is the "old style" ,The new type screws in from the rear of the housing.My pic showed the new type

 

[Bt Doctur]

I think they tried to use a new style core that is thicker vs the old type
Best bet is to remove everything and install a new GEN II shift cable instead of trying to make your mis-match work correctly

 

[BigWeakSauce]

I think they tried to use a new style core that is thicker vs the old type
Best bet is to remove everything and install a new GEN II shift cable instead of trying to make your mis-match work correctly

I agree with you here.
Part number they provided me was 47-2248 C-Shift Cable-MC1-Alpha 1 (which according to google looks to exclude the plastic shift plate portion). I'm willing to bet the OEM Alpha 1 cable is thicker than what was manufactured for MC1, or whoever they bought the cable from is using a newer mis matched inner core to build the kit like you suggested.
Thanks for the help guys.

 

[heartstealer]

After reading everything you all are saying and after replacing several shift cables on my MC drive I can tell you 100 percent that the cable you are trying to install is the wrong cable the MC drives have to have the cable that the barrel spins on. the new style cables that everyone is saying to use will not fit properly on the shift plate at the back of the engine. On another note you should also be at 5 7/8 inches rather then going off the 6 inches stated. 6 inches is for Alpha Drives not MC Drives.

 

[heartstealer]

Sorry it took me awhile but here is the correct part number for your lower shift cable I just had to replace mine again.

Mercuiser Part #865436A02​