[C320-list] Gear shift lever problem

[mark]

David, 

I think you're on the right track that the cable may have slipped.  The first thing I would do is make sure that the lever on the side of the transmission moves when you move the shift lever at the helm.  Ideally you would have a helper who can move the lever in the cockpit while you watch from the aft cabin.  If the lever at the transmission moves when you move the lever in the cockpit, the problem is probably that something has slipped out of adjustment.  If the lever on the transmission doesn't move when you move the one in the cockpit, then either your cable is broken, or has detached from one lever or the other.  But based on what you say, it sounds like the levers move, just not exactly as they should.

On my No. 232 there is a clamp that holds the outer sheath for the shift cable to a bracket aft of the shift lever for the transmission.  When you push the lever in the cockpit the clamp holds the sheath of the cable in one place, and the inner cable pushes the shift lever on the transmission further from the bracket, or pulls it back toward the bracket.  On my boat, that clamp is held in place by a screw into the bracket.  If you loosen that clamp screw you can move the shift lever on the transmission back and forth, and the sheath and the cable inside it will slide back and forth where they connect to the bracket.  Put the shifter at the helm in neutral position, then loosen the clamp and move the shift lever on the transmission until it is in also neutral.  (On my boat, the transmission is in forward when the lever at the transmission is pulled aft, then clicks into neutral when that lever is moved part way forward, and reverse when it is pushed all the way forward.)  Once the shift lever at the helm and the lever on the transmission are both in the neutral position, tighten the clamp that holds the cable sheath to the bracket, and you should be good to go.

If that doesn't work, make sure that the connection between the inner cable and the shift lever on the transmission is not slipping.  If that's loose, make sure the shifter at the helm and the lever at the transmission are both in neutral, and tighten the connection at the transmission.

If both shift levers move, and the cable hasn't come loose in either of those places, you need a transmission guy, or a new transmission.  When I had transmission trouble 4 years ago, it was almost as much to have the transmission rebuilt as to buy a new transmission.  I opted to buy a new one.  I hope you don't have to go there.

Good Luck,

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality,
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of John Beck
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2021 3:41 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Gear shift lever problem

My shifter problem was a broken bolt in the shifter handle!

On Fri, May 7, 2021 at 4:28 PM David Veeneman <davidv at veeneman.com> wrote:

> I need some advice about fixing the shift lever on my C320—it won’t 
> shift into forward. Neutral is where forward used to be, and reverse 
> is where neutral used to be. That suggests to me that the lever 
> linkage has slipped on the cable or rod that controls the transmission.
>
> Here are my questions: It this something that an owner can easily fix, 
> or would I do better to leave it to a mechanic. If anyone has done 
> this job, can you outline for me what it takes to do it?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> --
> David Veeneman
> SV Adelante, C320 #131
> Dana Point, CA
>
>
>
>
>
> --
Jb