Can’t shift into forward detent or get reverse

[lost in translation]

I have an Atomic 4 in a C&C 36 with pedestal shift and a friend left it in reverse for a week. My shift handle is stiff and so it remained in reverse after he shut off the engine even though there is not a detent in reverse.

The next weekend I found the boat did not go into gear in reverse and lost the detent to go into forward. The boat would only slowly proceed forward. It was as if the neutral region of the shift lever had become extremely large.

I worked on adjusting the collar tonight but can not get the fingers to engage with the cone, regardless of turning the color or releasing pressure on the 3/4 nit that controls the reverse tension. What am I doing wrong? I have removed the pedestal cable to ensure there is no complication there.

I’m attaching two short videos of what I see and welcome all advice.https://photos.app.goo.gl/cZzMUEHKUHCFQ9q5A

[jcwright]

Hello.

In the second of your two video clips, it appears that the actuating bar (aka 'cam') is not properly installed. A photo of the correct installation can be found in the following forum thread at entry #10:

http://www.moyermarineforum.com/foru...ead.php?t=9304

Regarding your stiff shift cable and/or pedestal mechanism, beware that the sustained pressure this can apply in the forward position can lead to serious damage:

http://www.moyermarineforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=10966

I hope these links help some.

Best regards,

Jack.

[lost in translation]

Jack,

Thank you very much. I realized the shift bar had become disconnected while waiting for the post to be approved.

Im researching now how to repair and the link you provided looks quite good for that.

Bailey

[Al Schober]

In addition to the reverse cam being disconnected, the fwd motion isn't going 'over the hump' and engaging the notch.
Recommend you disconnect you shift linkage from the engine, then get the transmission working properly with it's lever. Then you can work on your shift linkage.

[lost in translation]

I've reconnected the reverse bar and am finding that, just as Al noted, I'm still not getting the fingers over the cone for forward gear. The videos I showed were taken with the shift cable to the pedestal removed.

I can't figure out why I can't get the fingers to engage properly. It feels as if they won't expand enough or I'm at the end of my travel of the shift lever too quickly.

[Al Schober]

I recommend you back off on your fwd adjustment. Sounds like the fwd adjustment is MUCH too tight, preventing the transmission linkage from going into fwd.
Similar for the reverse adjustment - back it off until the transmission stuff goes to full reverse. This will give you full throw on the transmission input lever. Once you have full throw, tighten things up so they don't slip in fwd or reverse - this should NOT change full throw travel on the input arm, and will give you the max deadband for neutral.
Once this is done, you can play with the linkage to the pedestal. Do not adjust the transmission at this time.