Shifting gets worse after ten to twenty minutes running

[bcalek]

Installed brand new 106 on Tuesday 8-22-06 in our 240 searay. Ran great with muffs on - shifted super. Put in the water and again at first ran great, then after ten to twenty minutes shifting got worse and worse to the point that can not get it into neutral from rev or forward with out a great deeal of trouble. When it cools down everything seems to be back to normal even on land with the muffs on. What could possibly be the problem? My first thought is pressure build up in the drive...?

[onplane]

Pressure build up? I don't really think that can be it considdering the laws of physics and engineering design. Sure we start off with zero psi, and as heat from friction and side affeccts from the oil expanding will increase the psi within the sterndrive only because the size of the container remains the same. All this considdered all other SE 106 (alpha 1)sterndrives must exibit the same psi (+- ambient temp). However, in order for a sterndrive to "come out of gear" you move the shift lever towards neutral out of gear. The remote shift cable goes to the shiftplate on the engine, now two things happen, the request is transmitted to the lower shift cable, and most importantly, the shift cut-out switch is activated and this causes the engine to "die" for a split second relieving the tention on the shift dog and directional gear. The cut out has to happen to "come out of gear" and go into neutral or the "drive train strain" will never be releaved and the shift dog and directional gear cannont disingage. So, I would do two things. First before you take the boat back out verify that the lower shift cable is rigged correctly, this is a must since it may be slightly out of rig and cause problems after every thing warms up. also check the overall condition of the lower shift cable, is it melted where the plastic insulation comes into contact with engine/exhaust? How about that switch? When you decide to take it back out, plan on having problems since you will always be prepaired, if it will not shift out of gear, gain access to the shift plate and depress the cut-out switch and hold it, the engine must die!
The results of this action will result in your corrective action. Long story short, it has symptoms of being boat side.
Good luck,
Scott

[Technical Support]

I would add the fact that the shift cut out switch is not normally tripped while on land running on the muffs. Do as Scott says and tripped the switch by hand and see if it stalls. Then you can watch the switch get tripped while in the water using the remote control, to see if it is moving enough. Its possible that the switch is slightly out of adjustment, although normally if no one messes with it, it doesn't change.

Tech Support