Shift cable ?

[ericcarr]

OK as many of you may know I put a new motor in my 1990 Sea ray Sundancer, 7.4 L.. I have had the outdrive sit dormant for the past 4 to 5 years. I installed the outdrive went to hook up my shift cable and I adjusted it according to the manual and my shifter was extremely hard to go into gear so what happened was it pulled the covering right off of the cable itself, I was just curious as to what would cause this? Is there a way to check the outdrive to see if it is stuck in gear maybe

 

[dubs283]

Picture is blurry but can see the pressed end came off the outer cable.

Is this alpha or bravo? And how did you adjust the cable?

 

[ericcarr]

It is a bravo 3 drive…here’s how I adjusted it.

 

[ericcarr]

That’s exactly what happened, the pressed on part pulled off of the end because it was harder than hell when I tried to go forward or reverse..I even tried pulling on the end of the cable to try it tgat way & it’s not moving at all…

 

[Scott06]

Was engine running when u tried to shift it? I think bravo has to be running to shift

may have to take the drive off and check linkage in bellhousing see if something 8s hung up

 

[ericcarr]

No it wasn’t running…the one in the video isn’t running..

 

[ericcarr]

Was engine running when u tried to shift it? I think bravo has to be running to shift

may have to take the drive off and check linkage in bellhousing see if something 8s hung up

I just got done removing the drive to check things out.

 

[dubs283]

Bravo drives don't shift when the engine isn't running. At least not very well/easily. In the video the engine and drive aren't installed and he doesn't attempt a shift. He actually mentions checking the shifting with the engine running once everything is installed

In any case you need a new cable. Most likely you had the adjustment close but next time do the final shift check/adjustment with the engine running, preferably on the water

 

[ericcarr]

He did shift it many times though.

 

[dubs283]

He did shift it many times though.

That may be but without the drive properly installed it's useless. Plus without engaging the shift linkage, shaft and yoke in the drive there is no resistance on the cables as in your case

As I stated the engine needs to be running with the drive installed in order to check the shift system is working properly

 

[ericcarr]

OK my Question is should you be able to manually shift the outdrive into forward neutral and reverse using that little clamp the grabs the cable?

 

[dubs283]

OK my Question is should you be able to manually shift the outdrive into forward neutral and reverse using that little clamp the grabs the cable?

Yes, but you need to rotate the input shaft to do so. Usually able to get the linkage to move in/aft somewhat easily but you'll need a stout grasp with pliers on the linkage to get it to move out/forward.

This is of course while you are rotating the input shaft. The shift mechanism will be incredibly difficult if not impossible to activate without rotation of the driveshaft, clutch and gearset

 

[ericcarr]

I know you said you think that the motor has to be running in order to shift it, but can somebody tell me for sure if it Hass to be running to shift?

 

[ericcarr]

OK I just got done installing a new shift cable and what I did before I hooked it up to the bracket on the motor, I started the engine and then tried to manually pull on the table with my hand in this thing just is not budging, is there something that I am missing that could possibly be stuck inside the drive in gear?

 

[ericcarr]

OK I just got done installing a new shift cable for my bravo 3 drive and what I did before I hooked it up to the bracket on the motor, I started the engine and then tried to manually pull on the cable with my hand & this thing just is not budging, is there something that I am missing that could possibly be stuck inside the drive in gear?