Throttle shift delay

[Hunter]

My 2004 240 Sundancer started having an issue, where at random times when I shift it into forwards, there is about a five or six second delay before it actually shifts into forwards. The only way to get around it is to apply throttle, but this results in the boat suddenly lurching forwards and I’m sure it’s terrible on the boat. What are the possible reasons it started doing this?
Thanks,
Hunter

 

[scoflaw]

Start with replacing your lower shift cable, but more than likely your cone clutch is worn.

 

[Express 390]

Could be as simple as low Transmission fluid, Have you checked it?

 

[GnrlPatton]

Happened on my previous boat with the Bravo outdrive - worn out Cone clutch. Does it only happen shifting to forward? If so, it's a pretty good indication of a worn cone clutch.

 

[Hunter]

I checked the oil, it seems to vary quite a bit in height over the course of a day, but once the engine is cold it always returns to the same spot.
What do I do if it’s a cone clutch? Is that something I can fix myself?
Thanks

 

[scoflaw]

Sure, all basic hand tools needed, except the big notched spanner that releases the input shaft. Good shop vise needed as well.

 

[Hunter]

I scheduled a time to pull the boat and work on it but, now I’m wondering if that’s actually necessary.

For a couple weeks now, most of the time when the boat is sitting in neutral, I can hear a sight knocking sound coming from the outdrive but it goes away as soon as I put the boat in forwards or reverse. Finally I looked into it this weekend and someone who had a similar problem said that they just adjusted the shift cable and it went away. That being said, is it possible that all I need to do is adjust the shift cable to fix both problems? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks
Hunter

 

[techmitch]

I scheduled a time to pull the boat and work on it but, now I’m wondering if that’s actually necessary.

For a couple weeks now, most of the time when the boat is sitting in neutral, I can hear a sight knocking sound coming from the outdrive but it goes away as soon as I put the boat in forwards or reverse. Finally I looked into it this weekend and someone who had a similar problem said that they just adjusted the shift cable and it went away. That being said, is it possible that all I need to do is adjust the shift cable to fix both problems? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks
Hunter

Hope this helps: http://www.mercstuff.com/bravocableadj.htm

 

[Hunter]

Hope this helps: http://www.mercstuff.com/bravocableadj.htm

That helps a lot, but I can’t figure out, am I adjusting that on the throttle side of the cable or somewhere else? Not really sure where to look. Maybe this is a dumb question, but I’ve never had to do anything with shift cables before.
Thanks

 

[Handsome Transom]

Following , embarrased bumping my dock the other day