Expert: tyler boehner - 2/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a problem with my boat shifting into reverse. I recently took it out for an hour or so and had no problem until putting it back onto the trailer. While running it went into forward and reverse just fine, then as I tried to go into reverse it would not engage into gear, the engine rpms went up but it would not engage into reverse, forward works just fine and there is no grinding noises or anything. The linkage cable appears intact and functional. The person I bought the boat from had some work done on the lower unit at one time "overhauled." Could something at the other end of the linkage cable broken or come loose. If so what needs to be disassembled to fix this problem? Thank you for any advice.
Jason

ANSWER: It sounds to me like it is out of adjustment.  If there isn't any grinding, the lower unit is probably fine.  I would guess the shift cable needs to be adjusted to allow it to go further into gear.

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QUESTION: I took the boat out again for a second try after inspecting the upper end of the linkage. It went into reverse once but that was it. The shift lever is also very stiff. It moves freely when it is unhooked from the cable that goes thru the transom. Could something be worn or in need of lube or adjustment in the upper unit?

Answer
You probably have a bad intermediate shift cable.  That is the shift cable that goes from the motor to the outdrive.  There isn't really any way to lube it to make it better, it just needs replaced.  I strongly suggest taking it to a dealer at this point.  Putting a new cable in sounds simple, but in this case it is far from it.  It requires a lot of labor and some special tools that you probably won't have.  When you do take it to a dealer, make sure that they make sure that is what the problem is before they fix it.  I like to think that i am always right, but it is hard to trouble shoot a problem without looking at it.