Hard Shift to Neutral - Alpha 1 Sterndrive

[fellinger]

While out today I notice it was hard to shift into neutral from both the fwd and reverse positions. When shifting into neutral the control meets a lot of resistance and it would pop through neutral into the other gear. If you apply very light pressure it will sometimes just slide into neutral but, this takes time. Going into fwd or rev from neutral is flawless.

Looking at where the cables are mounted on to the engine there is what appears to be a position indicator? Could this peice be binding? When the engine is off there are no shift problems at all.

Fred

[BigAl13]

Maybe. See if you start it up it shifts easy then progressively gets harder as it heats up. also check the shift cables under the helm.

[fellinger]

Maybe. See if you start it up it shifts easy then progressively gets harder as it heats up. also check the shift cables under the helm.

It was tough from the get go but, again only under power. Is it the shift interuptor plate that could be binding? I would assume it's tensioned right if it goes into fwd and reverse from neutral easily and without grinding?

[striperdad]

Sounds like the shift interupt plate. Have you made any cable adjustments?

[Offshore Madness]

Is the shift cable old? some times its the part in the drive on the other end of the cable. there are a few "tricks" you can do.....Inbox me if you still have this issue.ill gladly give you a few tricks.....

[Baitwaster]

Maybe this site can help. A ton of good info!
http://www.sterndrives.com/

[fellinger]

Sounds like the shift interupt plate. Have you made any cable adjustments?

It acted up a little at the end of last season and I did adjust while out on the water. I forgot about it over the winter or I would've had it looked at.

[striperdad]

it is very impotant that your cable end adjustments at the shift plate are on the money, a stretched out shift cable to the drive will give you alot of problems achieving the correct shift. the drive should not make a ratchet sound going into gear. you want a good solid engagement. if you don't make sure of this you can do internal damage to the drive.

[fellinger]

it is very impotant that your cable end adjustments at the shift plate are on the money, a stretched out shift cable to the drive will give you alot of problems achieving the correct shift. the drive should not make a ratchet sound going into gear. you want a good solid engagement. if you don't make sure of this you can do internal damage to the drive.

It seems solid. There is no grinding, whinning, bumping etc. When I drained the lube last season there was no abnormal shavings (according to others).

[striperdad]

Try disconnecting the shft cable from the shift plate to the sterndrive.This way you can isolate which area of the shift is giving you the problem.

[fellinger]

I think it will be cheaper to call Maritime Matt!

[striperdad]

Yeah. The only reason I know about this is that I've been there with my boat.  Fortunately I do all my own work. Good Luck.

[fellinger]

Well, I pulled the boat on Friday after fishing and hauled her home. With the graciousness of another member we pulled the drive today, originally planning on replacing the sterndrive shift cable. The unit was a bit tight coming off. When we cleared it we found the center gasket laying flat in the drive and some water mixed in.

We assume the gasket became dislodged when the unit was last serviced. We checked all cable connections and cable and they appeared fine. Assuming the problem was the center gasket binding the shift assembly/cable we cleaned up everything and put in new seals/gaskets and buttoned her up.

In the reinstalled position we lost reverse but, after some careful cable adjusting we found all gears without any problems at all. It worked off and on power just fine. I am hoping to get her back in on Friday to see if the fix worked.

I am very hopeful that we found the problem.

Thanks again, Tommy!!