Shifting Forward, RPMs rise before engaging

[fng2moto]

97 Maxum, 4.3L, Alpha One Gen II (I read, how to post a question, I hope I got it right)
steering AND controls...I hope I posted in the correct forum.

Recently, when I tried to shift to Forward gear, the engine started to rev before engaging. I'm almost 1/4 throttle before it engages. Going into Reverse, it catches gear very quickly. (it wasn't that quick to engage before) and reverses normally.

What I would do that day, as I didn't want to ruin my wife's day on the bay, I would pull the trigger (and release of course) and ease the shifter forward and when the rpms started to rise, I would stab it real quick and then back off just as fast, so the trans would engage and I wouldn't blast off like a rocket! I could then putt around in the 5 mph area. I would then take off as normal. Shifter would disengage like normal when I wanted to stop and float around.

This was a bit of a pain when we had to trailer the boat at the end of the day.

I've Googled for hours trying to find the answer. I've read a few posts here and havent been able to find a thread with the same issue.

Can someone explain what I need to do or post a link please?
I'm guessing if I took it to the shop, it would be fixed in 10 min.

Or is something really wrong?

 

[Chris1956]

It sounds like your shift cable is not adjusted correctly, or something is wrong with the shifter.

Take a look at the shift cable, while someone moves the control into forward (motor off). The shift cable should move immediately as the throttle handle moves. If it does, the cable is misadjusted, and the control is fine. If the shift cable does not move immediately, the control has a problem.

Mercruisers have an upper and lower shift cable. It is possible the lower shift cable has too much looseness, causing it to shift late.

 

[fng2moto]

I will give it a try! Thanks!
It reminds me of what the tech at Sunset Marine in El Cajon said. He said to adjust the cable and move the nut towards the rear....if that makes sense.

I went thru all the other 'adjustment' details on Google...the removing this and that and measuring 6" or something like that. I printed out detailed instructions and followed them.

It didn't help.

What you mentioned last is what the tech mentioned. I'm thinking that's the solve. I hope.

If the control is the problem, I guess I'll look for instructions for that.

Thanks again!

 

[roscoe]

I'm guessing if I took it to the shop, it would be fixed in 10 min.

That's funny.

I think it would be fixed about the 2nd week of August.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I will give it a try! Thanks!
It reminds me of what the tech at Sunset Marine in El Cajon said. He said to adjust the cable and move the nut towards the rear....if that makes sense.

I went thru all the other 'adjustment' details on Google...the removing this and that and measuring 6" or something like that. I printed out detailed instructions and followed them.

It didn't help.

What you mentioned last is what the tech mentioned. I'm thinking that's the solve. I hope.

If the control is the problem, I guess I'll look for instructions for that.

Thanks again!

go thru the adjustment procedures in the manual, not google unless google brought you to the stickies in this forum.

 

[TheguyDirk]

Recently, when I tried to shift to Forward gear, the engine started to rev before engaging. I'm almost 1/4 throttle before it engages. Going into Reverse, it catches gear very quickly. (it wasn't that quick to engage before) and reverses normally.


I've Googled for hours trying to find the answer. I've read a few posts here and havent been able to find a thread with the same issue.

Can someone explain what I need to do or post a link please?
I'm guessing if I took it to the shop, it would be fixed in 10 min.

Or is something really wrong?

Same issue - 72 Merc 888 with a pre-alpha. I followed the manual as well for my year and am running into the same issue in forwards. Have not yet tried reverse. Boat shifts perfectly fine without power if I cycle through the gears.

Have you tried doing the shift cable adjustment with the throttle at WOT or at idle/neutral. I thought I read somewhere to do the procedure at WOT but it did not in the manual I had found.