Fixed the "Detente" problem

[Rick_Powers]

Hello,

This is the conclusion to the thread titled "Engine slips in forward gear".

It turns out that my shift cable housing was bad, and was allowing the shift cable to bend out rather than push the shifter lever forward.

I only realized that when I had the transmission cover plate off, and watched what happened when I tried to shift.

I was very clear at that point that I was not achieving forward "detente".

I was up at Pier 39 at downtown San Francisco watching the Fleet Week airshow, and in-between some really great aerobatic demonstrations in front of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate bridge, I accomplished the following easy fix.

So, rather than trying to figure out how to replace the entire cable, I installed a $1.95 piece of metal pipe (3/4" diameter, 4" length), gave it a hose clamp directly around it, then used that to secure the whole thing to the shifter support bar with another larger hose clamp.

The pipe serves to prevent the cable from bowing out and makes it push forward.

It worked like a champ, gave me full detente, and now my engine never races out of forward gear.

That was really fun, to make a simple yet effective repair while out on a trip.:)

[Baltimore Sailor]

Nuthin' like good ol' American ingenuity! Well done.

[Mark S]

I used seizing wire to keep the sleeve in place as a stop gap measure. I got a new cable and clevis but haven't installed it -- another winter project. Those cables are costly!

Mark

[lat 64]

good field repair Rick.

Mark,
I remember this summer you were trying to figure out what your problem was. Did you get to the root of it?

[67c&ccorv]

I'd say that part of the problem is the way the currrent clevis and pin are attached to the shift lever - way too much slop and free play in the clevis and pin allow the cable to deflect when force is applied to the shift lever.:(

[sastanley]

good catch 67 -

I think I'd add some washers on both sides of that to square up the connection.

I need to get my blower hose down there closer to the bottom of the bilge too :(

[Mark S]

Russ,

I did mess around with the forward adjusting collar and got it right where it ought to be. The cable problem manifested itself around the same time as the collar problem. It may have been the culprit all along, but it didn't hurt for me to get under the reversing gear cover and fiddle.

Mark

[lat 64]

Getting older and more philosophical, I have come to believe that it is wise to not rule out the coincidence of two (or more) problems popping up at the same time.:mad: Especially when working on an old neglected boat.

Full speed ahead. England expects every man to do his duty,
Russ