shifters real stiff?
 

While out on my maiden voyage with my new to me 32 baja, i noticed the shifters were very tough to move in to gear, forward and reverse. I mean real stiff ! Any ideas on why? The previous owner said he only went out once last season, so the baot was not used much last year. Can i lube the cables or something?

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Need more info what brand shifter, what drive/engine ect

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Disconnect the cable from the throttle to the transom bracket and see if the lower and the drive shifts easily by hand. If they do then you can see if your controls or your cable from your helm to your controls is bad. I have bent my cable at the transom bracket by leaning on it while in the engine compartment, if your controls shift easily with nothing hooked up to them than it's more than likely your cable, assuming you checked your lower cable and your drive first.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Note sure what brand shifter, looks like the original equipment. Its got bravos on it, with 502's. Hope that helps.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Like Bad said, Try unhooking the cable at the engine to find out which part is sticking. DONT try and shift the drive unless its running.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

I normaly disconnect the cable from the converter to the drive, that tells you if it is controll cables or in the drive. My Blackhawk drive which has the same shift setup as the bravo was very stiff, it was not in any of the cables or shifter. I pulled the back cover and greased the the inards, there is a ball detent that must be take apart to grease it right as it has a sliding sleeve plus the ball must turn freely. When I put it back together it was like butter, I have seen so many tear into cables and shifters when a little grease on the drives shift guts made them shift like new! Believe me Merc is very stingy with grease, all older drives can be made to shift great with about 1/2 hours time. The new Bravo X like I have now has the shift guts in the uppers oil cavity so they do not have that problem. If it is stiff at the drive pull the cover before you do anything else trust me 10 cents worth of grease is magic!

Phil

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

So, I will try disconnecting the cable, but can I manually shift it at the drive without the engines running?

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

No, dont try to shift the drives without the engines running.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Bravo's use bump gears and they don't engage very well without the gears spinning. You could end up damaging your lower cable trying to shift it without the motor running.
Fire it up with the cable disconected and shift it by hand, then go shift your control and see if it's still stiff while it's disconnected. Once you narrow it down you can start eliminating stuff until you've found the problem.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

95,
Either run your motors on the hose or do it while out in open water. It only takes a second to remove the cable from the shifters to the transisition block and shift the drive into gear. While the cable is disconnected you can try to move the shift levers and see if it has any drag.
To remove the back cap you must drain the oil down to that level. If it isnt time to change your gear lube you can just drain a quart and then pull the back cap. Use Merc 101 lube to grease up the detent ball and socket and put a big gob on the shifter lever. One other issue is the lower cable. If it is bent, it will cause problems. Hopefully, greasing the detent ball will cure the problem and no cables need to be replace.. Let us know what you find..

Hope this helps
Dick

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

The reason I asked what brand shifter is merc had a problem with the commander 3000 shifter and it would do exactly what you are stating

yes try disconnecting the cables in the engine compartment, and try shifting the shifter (after the cable to the out drive is disconnected in the engine compartment)

if that feels fine then it is either the other cable or the shift mechanism in the out drive

do not

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Guys it was mentioned above a bravo X drive is different. I have a brand new XR drive that shifts hard and I was going to check it when I change the fluid. Is the XR different from a regular Bravo 1?

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Grease the ball detent , sliding sleeve, I dont know this stuff. Im not sure if I will try it myself or not. Is this difficult to do? I am just a backyard mechanic. What cover do I take off, is it the one on the top of the outdrive? Where do I drain the fluid?

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

anyone,anyone?

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

The back drive cover with 3 bolts in it comes off, must drain drive lube first, there is a cavity in that area that is not lubed by the drive unit, and that is where the shift lever and ball detent are. Mine had gotten water in it, was so rusted and corroded that the shaft arm was almost rusted in two, also could not shift any more. new ball, shift lever, gaskets, and a ton of lube, shifts like new! Good luck

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Oh Yeah, to dain the lower unit you have to remove the prop, there is a screw under output shaft that is the drain plug.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

No one have the exploded view of a upper drive unit ????...cause i would like to understand all the mechanism ....hope i am clear ...and thank`s to take time to respond me

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

I did not drain my drive to lube the shiffter guts, just pulled the back cover. It is a seperate cavity with very little grease on the parts inside, they can get water in as mentioned above so do a good job of sealing the cover when you put it back together. The late model Bravo's like my X do have to be drained, Merc finally got smart and copied the way Volvo intended for the gut to get constant lube. If you are going to copy a drive that many have not been torn down in 20-30 years do it right!

Edit: Honest a kid could do the job super simple!

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

ask and you will recieve

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Thank's a lot Good T .....it's just what i looking for ....you ROCK....cause like you know my engish is not very good .....But with a Drawing ... i will understand for shure.... :D

My drive is a Bravo 1 X .....can i assume it's like the drawing ??
Thank's again
Best Regard's

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

My twin Fountain shifts hard on both drives. I took one of the covers off to check the ball detent. Not much grease there but they moved fine, the ball and sleeve were not stuck so I put it back together. Still takes more effort on the shifters than I think it should. My wife has more trouble than me but I'm afraid it will cost big bucks to get it fixed. I had already checked all the cables. I dont know what the next step would be.

Jerry.

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

did it ! Plenty of grease on them, still hard to move shifters. Must be the lower cables, local guy wants $650 to do both lower cables. Is that a fair price?

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

25hors, yes the x drive is the same for the most part.........

95 calibar thats sounds alittle high, if it includes parts the its not that hatful the cable kits with the boots are about 100.00 list

as for shifter stiff the reason I asked what shifter you guys have is merc had alot of problems with the quicksilver commander 3000 shifters and they used to get very stiff

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Ok it`s look like my trouble was the detend ball .....and he shift like new :D ...thank`s a lot to all of you .......
have a safe season !!!!!!!!

Re: shifters real stiff?
 

Just curious 95... did you buy the boat off of a guy in South Milwaukee?