Stuck in drive

[NateDogg]

I just got my boat back from the shop where they installed the power steering pulley upgrade with belt and rebuilt my seawater pump. I take it for a run this weekend and find out the hard way that the boat is stuck in drive (forward gear).

I know that this has to be a shift cable problem. Any tips or suggestions before I take it back to the shop?

I hope I get to use my boat this summer!

 

[techmitch]

The first thing i would ck. is the ignition interrupt switch.

 

[NateDogg]

Where might I find this? My service manual briefly mentions it and it is in reference to a smaller older motor.

 

[LmannyR]

on my 2000 merc v8 350ci, it's on the starboard side of the carb. The top cable is the cable comming from the throttle quadrant. The bottom cable is the cable going to the drive. both cables are attached to a shift mechenism, and you'll see a roller. with the engine running, push down on the bracket the roller is resting on. If the engine cuts off, then shift interrupt is intact.

Check the obvious first though, make sure the cables mentioned above are still connected in 2 places for each starboard of carb (FI, intake whatever).

Good luck.

 

[flflatrate]

if you have a bravo outdrive you do not have a shift interupt switch. Alpha drives have the shift interupt switch. How did it get stuck? did you rev it then shift? as soon as you started it from the work you had done was it in gear? or was it shifting fine then all of a sudden? from on the motor you can look at both shift cables that are on a bracket on the stb elbow, and make sure they are moving. if not that The drive probably has to come off.

 

[capz]

But if the top cable isn't moving you could suspect a fault in the throttle control box, behind the fiberglass. I vaguely remember a barrel mechanism inside the box, around the cable. If it's worn and pops out you'll have nothing but play when shifting. Probably unlikely though if the box is screwed tightly shut. Need some more info.

 

[NateDogg]

I took it out a few days after I got it back from the shop and it ran out fine. I had it up to 56 mph, the fastest I'd ever been in it and possible the fastest its ever been. I bought it from an older gentleman who mainly pulled his kids in a tube (not that there's anything wrong with that). I put it back on the trailer and took it home. Three days later it's stuck in drive and almost sitting in the back of my Silverado on the launch ramp.

I've checked the shift cables on top of the motor and they seem to be fine. I've never noticed it being difficult to shift into gear.

My mechanic thinks there was a recall/service bulletin about the "shift forks"? Back a few years ago. Anyone know what this might be?

 

[capz]

Same thing happened to me today only I was stuck in reverse. I was anchoring, put it in neutral and the engine cut out. Then I noticed I went too far with the throttle, as it was in forward. Couldn't get back into neutral. Disconnected the bottom shift cable, started up, and drive was stuck in reverse. Moving the drive shift cable by hand with the engine running did the trick. No problems after that.

 

[NateDogg]

UPDATE:

I got my boat back from the shop yesterday. They said that the clamp that holds the "drive" end of the shift cable in place was bent. I'm not sure what can cause that. Any suggestions so that I don't do it again?

 

[BarryCF]

I don't have a bravo, nor did I sleep in a Holliday inn last night. However, IIRC, from reading CSR, the bravo should not be shifted into forward or reverse without the engine running. Doing so bends that "thing".

Someone who actually knows will provide the correct answer.:smt001