Shifter issues
 

Hello-

I have a 2000 182 with the 4.3/Alpha drivetrain. Just turned 200 hours.

Issue is that the shifter is slow to come out of drive when put into neutral, takes about 3-5 seconds before it is truly in neutral after it is put in neutral - not a good thing for skiing.

Is this a shifter cable replacement issue, or can it be lubricated, or something larger?

Thanks

My baby was delivered to the shop tonight for this exact same issue. Mine actually stayed in gear until I moved the throttle slightly further than neutral. Not good for skiing, yeah... but REALLY not good for docking!!!

I've had 2 places look at mine. The first said it was the cable from the engine to the lower unit. They replaced it, and adjusted the "kill" switch. Made things worse! The second place said they couldn't duplicate the problem without a load on the prop (out of water, running on ear muffs). So they did nothing, expecting me to bring it back to them for my next service... uh... no thanks.

The place I took it to tonight thinks it's the cable from the throttle to the engine (funny, that's what I told the first 2 places!?!?!). He said the cable can stretch over time and actually wear away the plastic coating over the cable. This is when "sticking" becomes an issue.

If you're mechanically inclined enough, there are service manuals that tell you how to do it. Doesn't look too difficult. I've had such a problem with it for so long now that I just want someone to fix it!

There's not much else you can do. Lubricating usually doesn't help as you can't get all the way through. Adjusting for looseness is only temporary and will usually break at the worst time.

Re: Shifter issues
 

Just returned from the mechanic and a test run, installed new teflon cable and adjusted kill switch. Going from forward to neutral - problem solved, but going from reverse to neutral, no change. Back to the mechanic's.

Re: Shifter issues
 

Mine is exactly the same!! The shop told me it's difficult to adjust out of water, and would make a service call next time they were at the lake. Well, that never happened. I've just learned to live with it. I may try adjusting things myself, because I can't seem to get anyone to do it right. The new cable is definitely better and much smoother, but the reverse to neutral still sticks.

Re: Shifter issues
 

Mine did the same type of thing until it finally let go (as in boom goes the internals of the original handle).

Shop guy said that vintage of handle is junk and was amazed mine still worked as well as it did (until the boom part). Mine is a 2001 Jubillee with a 5.3L and Blackhawk III and it runs spot on with a new handle in there. I think you may not have a cable issue but junk handle with play internally that is impossible to adjust for.

PJJ

Re: Shifter issues
 

mine has done that for years until the engine warms and the idle settles down. I just turn off the motor and restart and it is in neutral. works great for me,

Re: Shifter issues
 

That's what I'm afraid of, doesn't it cost a lot more to replace the whole thing? And if you change the control box then you have to change the cables too.