Talk to me about control cables.

[shicks007]

I think I need a new shift cable for my evinrude. Here's what I got going on. Shifts into forward great. Shifting to reverse has just started to heistate "dropping" into gear, ya know........kind of grinds a tlittle acreoss the dogs and then drops in. I have had these shift cables on my boat since I have had the boat (7 years now). Who knows how old the cables are. I tried to adjust it at the motor with no luck. If if get it to shift into reverse...I loose my forward a little. I have heard they do stretch after time. My question is......is there any adjustments on the contol itself? Can you replace just one cable or do you replace in pairs? What length would be the best for my 76" cuddy. I am running pre 96' contols and a 97' evinrude 150hp with an adapter cable for the harness. Thanks guys, I know someone's been there done that on the subject, school me.

[macojoe]

Before you order new cables I would disconnect them and shift by hand on the muffs and make sure you are looking at something else??
If all is ok then I would replace both cables but thats just me.
When you pull your cable just measure it and get the same size.

Or you just measure the route of the cable there now and round off to the next higher foot.

[phatdaddy]

shick, mine was doing something similar, it would go into gear and when i accelerated it would make a "chunk" sound. i thought it was the foot, turned out to be cables(12 years old). i used the teleflex "Plus" and changed both while i was into it.

[RidgeRunner]

I agree with MJ on this one 100%. Unfortunately I had a clutch dog go on my 90 Johnrude. The cables were replaced before the lower got a rebuild. It was doing the same thing.

[shicks007]

Thanks guys, phatdaddy....that sounds like what mine is doing. When I go to take off the cables I will check and see if it shifts by hand. Another question........are the two cables the same? or is there a different type for throttle and a different type for shift?