1996 mercruiser 4.3 LX Rerverse problem?

Question

When I start the motor on land w/mickey mouse ears it runs fine until I shift it into reverse then the motor dies, but when I place the shifter into forward it will shift and run fine??!!! This is true at the lake also.....but whats weird is that after the unit is ran on the lake either full throttle or just cruising it will shift into reverse just fine and stay running.....Also how do I adjust the shift cables I see that there is a barrel nut attached to the cable,could the cables be stretched? The cables have never been adjusted??!!!!

Thanks for reading all of this .............. Any help would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

To make sure your adjustment is right put it in forward and then check to make sure te lower cable that runs to the outdrive is 6 inches from center of plastic barrel to the center of the hole in plastic slide end and leave it there . That is the factory measurement and it stays at 6 inches

All shift adjustments are done at the cable that comes from the remote shifter .

  When you take off the lower cable to get your 6 inch measurement try moving cable in and out if it has any resistance  where  you have to really push or pull the cable is bad .

What happens is the resistance causes the intermittant shift switch to hang up and shut down engine . It is especially noticable in reverse.

once you have the 6 in adjustment attach it to its mount then you can get ready to attach the upper cable and adjust it

The right adjustment it should in engage in gear right before the detent in forward and right before detent when shifting into reverse.

Sounds like you may have lower cable going bad check the resistance

Answer 2

I  just ran into this problem on my mercruiser do yourself a favor and take it a shop and have it done.

I fought with mine for 2 days and gave up they do it all the time for the 45.00 they charged me to adjust it was well worth it.

replacement cable including labor will cost about 150.00 max have a mercruiser tech do the work.

Answer 3

THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SHIFT CABLE.  YOU CAN ADJUST THE CABLE BUT YOU NEED THE INSTRUCTIONS TO DO IT.  LOOK AT A CHILTON OR MERC MANUAL.  I BELIEVE  YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE BARREL TO THE END OF THE THREADED PART AND THEM COUNT 4-5 FULL TURNS OF THE BARREL NUT.  REPLACE IT AND TRY IT AGAIN.  IF IT DOES NOT WORK GO ONE FULL TURN AT A TIME UNTIL THERE IS NO MORE ADJUSTMENT.  iF THERE IS NO MORE ADJUSTMENT CHANGE THE SHIFT CABLE.  CHECK ONE THINGS BEFORE CHANGING AND ADJUSTING THE CABLE.  REMOVE THE DRIVE AND MAKE SURE THE SHIFTER ARM IS CORRECTLY INSTALLED AT THE DRIVE AND NOT BROKEN.  REPLACE THE DRIVE AND DO THE ABOVE ADJUSTMENT.  CHECK THE CABLE FOR KINKS AND BLOCKAGE. GREASE THE INNER CABLE WITH LOCKEASE OR GRAFFITE GREASE. GOOD LUCK.  NOT AN EASY JOB TO CHANGE THE CABLE IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT, NEED SPECIAL TOOL TO GET IT DONE.

Answer 4

file & paul are both on track.  you really need the written instructions in front of you to adjust the shift cable.  the fact it works sometimes and then not indicates that you need to change out the cable to the outdrive.  also, there is a momentart kill switch on the shift bracket on the engine that should be adjusted after r/r the cable.