Not Going Into Forward Gear

[vgcapano]

Ladies and gents I’m having an issue with my starboard mercruiser 350 motor not going into forward gear. Long story short,I took my kids out and came back. While attempting to moore the boat, I found my starboard motor would stall out when put in reverse. I got the boat docked and went to look at the cables. I found that the shift cable came loose from the bracket it kicks down into. I put it back on and tried the boat gears. I now have the opposite issue of having reverse but no forward gear. I have tried adjusting the cables as anyone would but I have had negative results. I was recently in the eng compartment manually shifting the lever on the drive (shift cable not attached) moving from reverse to neutral just fine but forward gear will still not engage. Any thoughts as to what it could be? Please advise when you have a moment.

[km1125]

Does the shift level 'click' into the fwd position but the drive does not engage?

Have you checked the fluid level? Are these velvet drives or some other transmission?

[vgcapano]

As far as the drives, I believe they are bravo v drives. The transmission fluid container level is still good. The only click sound I hear when manually shifting the lever attached to the arm is when moving out of neutral. Forward gear just does not want to engage.

[vgcapano]

The drives may be apha as well. I am not sure how to tell the difference between them to be honest.

[Viper]

So can you clarify that this is definitely a sterndrive application and not an inboard application (shafts, rudders, etc.). The terms being used are getting a little confusing.

[tomschauer]

If you have alpha gen I outdrives, which is most likely what you have for 1989 350's there is a special procedure to set the shift arm. You should be able to look it up on youtube fairly easily. Also, it will not just go from f-n-r without some prop spin to engage the gears.

[vgcapano]

I definitely do not have a stern drive. It’s a V Drive. I wasn’t sure if it was an alpha or bravo though. Tomschauer, I will look up the procedure online. Thanks for clarifying what drive I have. Is it easy for the shift arm to get out of alignment and need adjusting?

[tomschauer]

OK, if its a V drive then you do no have a bravo or alpha stern drive.

Better look up some pics, and make sure what you are working with.

[Viper]

That's why I'm asking for clarification, v-drive and alpha/bravo being tossed about for the same application. A v-drive is a transmission used in an inboard application that will be hooked up to a shaft going through the hull, a shaft strut and a rudder, all under the hull. An Alpha and a Bravo are models of sterndrives (external transmissions) that hang off the back of the transom, no v-drive needed.

Sterndrives:
https://www.google.com/search?q=sterndrives&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHsJqUiL_qAhVQK80KHR48AH4Q_AUoAXoECBAQAw&biw=1229&bih=608

Inboard:
https://www.google.com/search?q=inboard+v-drive+boats&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi9y4ftiL_qAhVGja0KHVo3BnQQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=inboard+v-drive+boats&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIICAAQCBAHEB46BggAEAcQHlDse1inmQFg6p0BaABwAHgAgAH1CIgB2CSSAQszLTIuMS4xLjIuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img&ei=pHkGX73pLMaatgXa7pigBw&bih=608&biw=1229

[vgcapano]

I appreciate your responses. I was under the impression that the v drives had an A or B attached to them. Thanks for clarifying. Still no luck with getting it in forward gear.