any mercruiser outdrive experts?

[Freebee]

My outdrive will not shift into forward or reverse. With the outdrive raised and the forward gear selected I can turn the prop and get it to lock. But with the engine ticking over by manually pushing and pulling on the shift cable it will not go into either gear. with the engine on the prop seems to be turning at about 10 rpm in one direction regardless of which way I push/pull the shift cable. Am I right in thinking that the shift end of the cable can only be accessed from underneath the drive?

 

[David2452]

Alpha 1 or gen II or Bravo ?

I take it you already know there are two shift cables, if it is the final shift cable you are moving then the problem is in the drive and it will have to be removed, could be simple like a broblem with the shift shaft or more serious internal.

David

 

[Freebee]

2 shift cables? From the controller(throtle and gears) one cable goes to a device that splits speed control and gears. The gear cable seems to pass under the engine and into the outdrive under the drive shaft. This is the cable I have been pulling and pushing. Should there be another cable? It seems to me the fact that the prop will spin is basically friction drive fromt he lower drive pinion agittating the lub oil. The drive coupling does not seem to be slipping so I am think that something has happened to the gear change (outdrive end of the cable) but am I right in thing this is the other side of the transom and to get to it I have to drop the drive off?.

 

[Freebee]

the drive is mid 70's and I am told it's pre alpha. but I am having difficulty identify it.

 

[David2452]

The prop should ratchet one way and lock the other when the cable is pulled and reverse when the cable is pushed.

The drive will have to come off, 6 nuts and if not been off for a while a good deal of cursing. Try the slider first as the cable nipple may be slipping inside, this then rotates a shaft to translate the movement from linier to rotary. If the bottom end of the shaft moves in unision with the cable when pushed and pulled with no play the the drive needs specialist attention. Otherwise lokate the source of the play and replace the offending part.

If you propose to do any of this work yourself I strongly reccomend you to buy a manual before starting the job.

Good luck

David

 

[coliholic]

I know nothing about these at all, so can't give you any advice.

However, I happen to have a copy of the Mercruiser Stern Drive Shop Manual which covers loads of GM, Ford and Mercuriser inline and V6\V8 engines as well as Mercruiser outdrive units from 1964 -1987. In total about 600 pages of all sorts of useful info that I'll never need, so you're welcome to the book if you want it.

Just PM me your address and I'll pop it in the post.

 

[David2452]

A further thought Mike, is someone turning the prop for you whilst you push / pull ?
They often will not engage otherwise. Take the man up on his kind offer, even if someone else does the job for you it will give you a better chance of not getting ripped of if you have a clear undrestanding of the system.



David