Merc Control Cable Question

[barthel]

Evening all,

I was lubing the cable and pivot points last weekend when I noticed something that didn't seem right. My engine is a '98 Merc 3.0L with an Alpha One Gen II outdrive.

While I was greasing the control cable block on the starboard side of the engine I noticed the block was slightly loose. So, I grabbed a wrench to tighten it up. Well, the bolts are tight and seem to be threaded in all the way, yet it's still loose. It almost looks like there's a washer missing.

Is the cable block supposed to be slightly loose? I didn't want to take it off and put washers in it to tighten it up without checking first.

Thanks.

 

[achris]

Re: Merc Control Cable Question

...Is the cable block supposed to be slightly loose? ....

Yes. They need to be able to move on the pivot point because as well as pulling, the pivot point rotates inside the cable... No loose, no move properly....

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Merc Control Cable Question

That is your shifter plate, there are very specific instructions to adjusting it properly. If it shifts correctly now I wouldn't change any thing.
It is possible that it is loose or that it's OK. If the nuts tighten down and stop with enough room to allow the loop ends to pivot on the bolts that's ok, you don't want them bound up, that would hinder your shifting. If there is slop or play in the cable ends when the nuts are tight that can be a problem. They should be able to pivot but not be able to wiggle.

If you want to go through the setup it's in the Mercruiser manual. Here is a link http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html, and here is a different link to the adjustment process simplified http://www.mercstuff.com/images/shiftcable.jpg.

But if it works OK I wouldn't mess with it, easy thing to muck up.

 

[barthel]

Re: Merc Control Cable Question

10-4.

Thanks Gents