shifting trouble

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Had trouble shifting gears last year. I replaced lower shift cable and had everything working perfect by end of season. Today I discovered that it won't slide into reverse again! How can this be ?! This was the last thing I had expected to happen. Has this happened to anyone else ?:helpsmilie:

[master wrench]

What brand drive do you have?

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Its a #1 merc or pre-alpha , 76'. What do you think?

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I discconnected the reomote cable and lower unit shifts fine . What are my options??:helpsmilie:

[master wrench]

It sounds like the lower cable is ok beings you checked that out. Sounds like you may need a forward control cable or a new control box up front. Is it a side mount or a dash mount?

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dash mnt. Pulled control box off and worked the linkage back and forth. Evrything seems ok , but I don't have enough travel in the cable to reach the point of shifting . It needs another 3/4 of an inch more in both directions. I'm thinking cable is streched just enough that it can't push or pull the linkage far enough before it bottoms out in the control box. Any thoughts on this one ?

[BUDC]

A stretched cable would usually only shorten one side of the stroke(the "pull" side). The other would act as if it were too long(the "push" side).
A couple of suggestions
*Check the entire length of the sheath, particularly at bends to see if it has worn through allowing the wire to slip out.
*Are both ends of the cable sheath being securely held? If they slip in/out of the clamps, it could give your the sort of trouble you describe.
*Could the control box end of the cable be pinned in a hole closer to the pivot than it was? That would shorten the amount of cable travel in both directions.
Good luck!!
budc

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put new cable on w/same results. must be in the box?

[buddavid]

I'd be willing to bet (a six pack) that you have a build up of gunk inside the "GUIDE,SHIFT ACUATING CABLE END" (i believe i'm getting the name right) where the cable sheath recesses into it. This piece is what is attached to the end of the shift cable at the bell housing of the outdrive. The housing of the cable is secured to the bell housing and this piece is fixed to the end of the cable itselt and it links to the the upper arm of the shift shaft. When the boat is shifted into reverse this "guide, shift acuating cable end" slides forward into the bell housing and the cable housing goes up into the same recess that the cable goes though. Gunk builds up back in this recess (marine life, salt deposits) and the cable housing bottoms out when the boat is trying to shift into reverse. You'll have to pull the drive, pull this piece off of the end the the shift cable, it is secured in a strange manor involving a small piece of wire if I recall correctly and clean out the recess. It is best done with a small drill bit by hand, using the drill you are likely to drill though the part.

This is all a bit difficult to discribe but is pretty easy to do, remember to put the boat in forward before trying to pull the drive.

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Thanks! Will pull the drive this weeek and see what happens