Alpha One Gen 2-won't engage reverse

SAshton

SAshton

Member
Nov 30, 2007
416
somerset, mass
Boat Info
2004 280 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 4.3 w/A1 drives
Boats been fine all year. Maybe grinded when engaging reverse couple times but always seemed fine. Was fine last trip and today I went to run engines and spin props and reverse just grinds. I think I see I can make some adj on the lower cable on the bracket but seems odd. Any input?


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The lower cable which controls reverse is all the way down on the slide and the nut is frozen inside the sleeve so the other end just spins. I'll have to grab with vice grips. I saw those videos and will try. Just weird that it was fine last trip and now!!! Marina thinks I need a new lower shift cable but I'll def try adjusting it 1st.


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I also don't think I should mess with forward. The issue is reverse so maybe just he slide adjustment I hope. Another theory is marine growth and it not allowing the dog the move that way. I know that part is exposed to the water so maybe it's all full of barnacles or something.


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I think first I would follow the instructions in the video and verify both the upper and lower cable are adjusted to the intial spec. In most cases if you do this, it will shift fine unless something is broken or worn with the lower cable. If it still doesn't shift right, I would disconnect the lower shift cable and make sure you can shift it by hand by pushing/pulling cable(with engine off) between F and R, you can verify by checking the prop to see if it is locking in F and R. If it wont't shift by hand something else is wrong (worn / broken cable). The only other adjustment you can make is the slide adjustment for the lower cable or the barrel adjustment on the upper cable. The upper cable barrel allows you to adjust where -N- is, so moving the a few turns one way or the other would move -N- more toward F or R on the shifter. If the shift interrupt doesn't seem to be interrupting at the proper time when going from F to N this adjustment can fine tune it. You just have to play with it by moving the upper cable barrel a couple turns at a time. The slide adjustment helps when it is not going all the way into reverse.

The barnacle theory is possible, the shift shaft mechanism is exposed to water. The shift shaft points to 12 oclock in F and 10 oclock in R so it is possible something is restricting it from going to R. I do find it odd that it just happened, usually the shifting degrades over time as the cable wears etc. Also, is this happening on both drives? Even more strange if so. But only way to find this out is to pull the drive.

Cables don't just go out of adjustment overnight, they stretch and wear slowly - my boat is a 1999 and I just replaced the shift cable for the first time last year, and only then because the bellows started leaking. I followed the method in these videos to install my new one and adjusted - shifted fine right from the start and I have not touched it since.
 
I agree with BillK, odd that it would happen overnight. I would actually pull the cable off the mount and just shift it by hand as suggested to see if it locks the dogs on in reverse. Do you hear the ratcheting sound when trying to go into reverse like you would normally if you shift too slow?
 
I adjusted per the video and seems better. Still grinds sometimes when shifting into reverse but if I move the slide adjustment up anymore then when in reverser it runs bad and eventually stalls. Not sure if the interrupt is adjustable. When I ha e more time I'll re check the cable play. Maybe it's time. Other side is 100% fine. This one has always on rare occasion grinded going into reverse once in awhile.


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Good deal - you might need to adjust the upper cable a little more - remember the barrel you turned 4 times toward the stern? Try one or two turns more and see if it improves. Usually with an Alpha, the time to replace the lower shift cable is when the shift cable bellows starts leaking - have to remove the cable to replace the bellows so might as well do the whole thing then.
 
I thought once those were adjusted the only adjustment is the lower cable slide? Nothing says to move the barrels once in factory spec. Forward is and has always been fine in and out of gear. Never even grinds even if I shift slow. Only reverse and if I adjust the slide too far up where it shifts smooth it runs crappy and then stalls because the interrupt. It's pretty good now but I'm OCD and I want it to never grind when shifting in reverse like the other side.


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Your right, normally you would not change those adjustments once they are set. But that is assuming you have new cables that are in spec and things work fine after the initial adjustments. In your case you are dealing with old cables that have some wear and stretch in them. The fact that you had to move the lower cable up on the front slide is proof of this. Turning that upper barrel the 4 turns takes slack out of the upper cable, you probably have more slack than a new cable, so a couple more turns should help with reverse. Just move it two turns at a time - if it gets better great, if worse move it two turns back. The problem with adjusting the lower cable at the slide is that you are moving the "range" of where the interrupt switch cuts in - if you look at the front of the shift plate, you will see a little plunger sitting in between two "humps" that is the interrupt switch. Ideally it should be exactly in the middle of the two "humps" if it gets two far one way or the other it "interrupts" at the wrong time and kills the engine. The older interrupt switches had a wire arm that you could adjust them with, not sure how to adjust the newer ones - never had to do that. It would not hurt to clean up the swtich, they can get grime on them and stick. The only adjustment out side the initial adjustments I have ever done is the barrel on the upper cable, to clear up some "ratcheting" when I went to reverse sometimes. Sounds like you are getting it there and things are pretty good, just sounds like me wanting to get things perfect!

Are these the original shift cables? If they are you have gotten your $$ worth, like I said earlier, mine lasted until last year when the shift bellows started leaking, at that point I replaced the cable, all the bellows and trim sensors.
 
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My cables were changed. I'm guessing around 2014 when bellows manifolds and all that was done. I think I have the cables where the lower cable has the brass barrel that doesn't move which I think proves they are newer. It has threads but the barrel wouldn't budge. I got the 6 inches by adjusting the cable and locking the lock nut. I have it as best as it's gonna get when doing the adjusting with boat in the water and with no help to hold prop in gear. It shifts smooth and didn't grind even when I went slow. There's isn't much adjustment cause if you go any more he shift interrupt bogs the engine then it will stall. This is my 1st alpha and I guess they aren't perfect like all my bravos in the shifting dept.


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I was thinking maybe changing he lower cable in spring but I'm reading that when it goes it gets stiff and hard to find neutral etc and mine is smooth and neutral isn't an issue at all. Just a little temperamental when going in reverse I guess.


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I know the bellows were changed so I am actuallly guessing the lower cable were too.


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An Alpha has a totally different shifting mechanism, dog gears vs a cone clutch. By design it just doesn't shift as smooth as a Bravo. Also, I have found the Alpha it shifts much better when you are deliberate in moving the shifter, go too slow and the dog gear doesn't engage and ratchets. Sounds like you have yours shifting pretty good. I don't think you need new cables if they were replaced 2 years ago. Pat yourself on the back for fixing this and saving some $$.
 
I think the issue the other day was the nut on the adjustment slide was loose and moved all the way to the bottom. I'll check he cable slack once it's pulled when I have someone to hold the prop in gear. I did it without doing that which is a no no but it seems to be fine. Thanks for your help.


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So everything was all set and boat sat for 6 days and again it was hard to get in reverse. I kelp moving cable forward/ reverse and repeat. Seems good again but I'm thinking it must be some growth to begin with not letting shift dog move all the way in reverse. Boat comes out tomorrow so my fingers are crossed there's growth cause the cable is free and smooth and not that old.


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Sounds like it, based on what you have done, the cables would not go out of adjustment just sitting
 
That's what was weird in the 1st place. Hopefully when it comes out tomorrow I'll see something near the dogs, that's an easy fix.


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Shifted fine again today. Had hauled out and flushed engine and again shifted fine. Changed oil and started again and it won't fully engage. **** off and raised drives and put in full reverse. If I move the arm on the outdrive a hair it will engage. Seems it off by a bit. Lower shift cable ? Issues on the drive itself possible? Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not. I'm stumped.


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I had the same problem with mine. The issue was a kinked shift cable at the back of out drive housing where it threads into the housing. It most likely happened when the new cable was installed. I would pull the out drive and disconnected the shift linkage at the engine. push and pull the cable and see if you can feel it binding.
 
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