[grommett]

The engine runs smooth at all speeds but stalls when I engage reverse and sometimes when I engage forward. Can get embarrassing when trying to maneuver in a busy marina. Someone told me there is a switch on the engine that momentarily cuts the ignition when shifting, could this be the culprit and is it easy to fix?

Looking forward to the day when I have no more problems to post!

[AirNavy]

What's your idle RPM? If it's too low, the initial loading when shifting into gear can be enough to stall it.

[jimshabbah]

I am guessing you just need to adjust your shifter cable. I have not done it myself, but I have gone through the instructions and they don't seem to complicated.

Let us know what you find out.

[grommett]

Hi Jimshabah

I've been looking at the throttle/shift cable system and I am not sure what needs adjusting, where did you find instructions?

I have noticed that there is a cam on an arm that should close a switch with a nylon roller on the end, but there is some play and the switch never closes at any point between WOT forward and WOT reverse. I am not sure how to adjust this or even whether there is too much play in the linkages.

I have taken a picture of the linkage. The blue circles are the linkages that seem to have a lot of play.

The orange circle shows the cable/pin (removed from housing in photo) that pushes the arm with the cam on it and the arrow is where the adjustment seems to be, the end link moves up and down a slotted hole thus adjusting the cam. I have tried this without the engine running and putting a multimeter accross the switch terminals but cant seem to get a positive position.

I am more convinced now, that this is what has been causing my problem, and at worst I can get someone to look at it but it would be good to know the proper way to fix it.

[mikeyt]

Have a look at this site for specific repair instructions...

http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

[jimshabbah]

The link that mikeyt provided is where I had seen the instructions.

Good luck. I hope the adjustment does the trick.

[grommett]

Just to let you all know, the adjustment in that link worked a treat.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by grommett

Just to let you all know, the adjustment in that link worked a treat.

Yay!

I love success stories. For one: It's nice to see people get their beloved boats back on the water. Secondly: It's nice to know I might have a chance in hell of fixing our boat when the same thing happens to us.

Jim