My Boat, It doesn't shift right. Shift lever is not smooth at all.?

Question

When going into reverse it either slams into reverse or just doesn't go in. Forward isn't as bad but not good either. The shifter, Quicksilver 3000 classic. This goes to a Mercruizer 7.4 with a Bravo 3 Drive Unit.

Answer 1

If it slams into gear or doesnt shift at all it may be shifting at too high an RPM. Yamahas are famous for slam shifting and my friends honda just doesnt shift if it is at too high an RPM so check that. It could also be loose, worn out, or even just misadjusted cables either on the engines end or at the throttle control lever.

Answer 2

Just a cable adjustment. Probably needs to go towards reverse a little. Just move the whole housing in that direction 1/8 inch at a time.  

Answer 3

check gear oil level

Answer 4

Relax...usually shifting problems are not in the shifter or the transmission, but in the cable.   You can verify this by disconnecting the shifter cable at the outdrive and seeing if the shift arm will move by hand .   It if does, replace the shifter cable.   Lubricating it sometimes will work by clearing up the corrosion,  but I've found that once it starts binding, it's easier and a sure thing to just replace the cable.   If it ain't the cable,  it's in the outdrive.   Is there a proper level of lubricant and are all grease points well lubed?   If it's more than that, we're talking serious issues and you'll have to remove the drive and have it worked on, replaced or rebuilt.   But most likely,  it's just a cable.