shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

[Trader Vick]

After reading about shift problems, I suspect, my 1986 mercruiser 140 alpha 1 gen 1, may be a victim.
I have read about shift cable getting stretched, and that they are somewhat difficult to replace.
So, Can I just remove the barrel connector from the engine end, and "snip" a bit of the "too long" cable to remove the excess?
seems logical but way too easy, is there an actual reason this would not work?
NOTE: I do prefer not to simply do the job right the 1st time, (as often advised), and just replace the cable, if possible, as I like doing a job over and over, in hopes of finding a time saving shortcut, not matter how long it takes.

 

[achris]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

It's more likely the inner sleeve of the outer cable is worn, thus producing the slop...

Despite wanting to do the job over and over, there is no 'short-cut', the cable needs to be replaced, and it's a good thing you don't like simple, easy jobs. It's not simple or easy. It's a complex job requiring years of experience, hours of patience and a myriad of special tools....

HERE is the OEM manual for you to read and get confused with.... Almost the whole of section 4B covers the lower shift cable...

Enjoy....

 

[tazrig]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Come on that's mean. Don't scare the poor boy. It takes a little time but it's not as bad as all that.

 

[achris]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Come on that's mean. Don't scare the poor boy. It takes a little time but it's not as bad as all that.

Just playing to the original post, that's all.....

 

[tazrig]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Oh, O.K. :lol:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Trader Vick - Welcome aboard. You said;

NOTE: I do prefer not to simply do the job right the 1st time, (as often advised), and just replace the cable, if possible, as I like doing a job over and over, in hopes of finding a time saving shortcut, not matter how long it takes.

So how is doing it over and over again to find a time saving shortcut saving any time? If you spend one hour to save 5 minutes on a job you will do once, maybe twice (ten total minutes saved), where did you save time? Is there some logic in your statement that just eludes me?

Listen to Chris, he knows. He does it for a living. He may have exaggerated some, but there is only one way to do it.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Thank God he's not working on my boat!!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

After reading about shift problems, I suspect, my 1986 mercruiser 140 alpha 1 gen 1, may be a victim.
I have read about shift cable getting stretched, and that they are somewhat difficult to replace.
So, Can I just remove the barrel connector from the engine end, and "snip" a bit of the "too long" cable to remove the excess?
seems logical but way too easy, is there an actual reason this would not work?
NOTE: I do prefer not to simply do the job right the 1st time, (as often advised), and just replace the cable, if possible, as I like doing a job over and over, in hopes of finding a time saving shortcut, not matter how long it takes.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... in a word,... Nope, it'll be to short then....

 

[Trader Vick]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... in a word,... Nope, it'll be to short then....

Thanks for the feedback ALL! Tazrig, Chirs was right responding in kind, I was just having a little fun with the post,& chris thanks for the OEM link, better than my greasy Clymer rag! GA_Boater you're right about the time of course, I was lampooning my own tendency to rush a job the 1st time (at least) and be sorry. Bond-o that's the answer I was not wanting to hear. So I guess "stretched"= BOTH (inner sleeve of outer cable worn producing slop) AND ("Limper" cable (like pushing a rope) AND too long (but will be too short if cut) ??

 

[Bondo]

Re: shorten a stretched merscuiser shift cable?

Thanks for the feedback ALL! Tazrig, Chirs was right responding in kind, I was just having a little fun with the post,& chris thanks for the OEM link, better than my greasy Clymer rag! GA_Boater you're right about the time of course, I was lampooning my own tendency to rush a job the 1st time (at least) and be sorry. Bond-o that's the answer I was not wanting to hear. So I guess "stretched"= BOTH (inner sleeve of outer cable worn producing slop) AND ("Limper" cable (like pushing a rope) AND too long (but will be too short if cut) ??

Ayuh,.... The inner cable don't Stretch much, but the outer casin' gets a groove worn in it, causin' the slop goin' both ways...

'n that reminds of an antique Joke,....
A drunk is draggin' a chain down the road, an ole guy asks 'im Why he's draggin' the chain,...
The drunk responds by askin' the guy, "Have ya ever tried Pushin' a chain",..??