Shift Cable Adjustment - Mercury 45 Jet 50-55 Service Manual

17. Install the throttle cable as follows:
a. Rotate the throttle grip to the IDLE position.
b. loosen the set screw (a) in the cable barrel.
c. Position the throttle cable barrel (b) so the bar-
rel will be able to slip into the retainer when the
cable end is on the mounting stud and there is
a slight pre-load against the throttle stop.
d. Apply a small amount of Loctite to threads on
set screw and tighten until snug, then add an
additional 1/8 turn.
a - Set Screw
b - Cable Barrel
18. Place the cable barrel into retainer.
19. Fasten the cable end to mounting stud with nylon
washer (a) and locknut (b). Tighten locknut against
the nylon washer, then back-off the locknut 1/4
turn.
20. Secure the retainer in place with cable latch (c).
c
a - Nylon Washer
b - Locknut - Tighten Locknut Against The Nylon Washer, Then
Back-Off The Locknut 1/4 turn.
c - Cable Latch
90-817643R1 DECEMBER 1996
a
b
a
b

Shift Cable Adjustment

WARNING
!
The shift cable must be adjusted to lock the re-
verse gate against unexpected engagement
(caused by water pressure hitting the gate) while
operating the boat in forward. Activation of the re-
verse gate will cause sudden unexpected stopping
of the boat. Sudden stopping may cause occu-
pants to be thrown within the boat or even out of
the boat. This action may result in serious injury or
death.
1. Place shift lever into full forward position.
2. Adjust the brass barrel (c) on the shift cable so that
roller (d) is at the full end of travel (bottom) in the
shift cam when the shift lever is in forward.
3. Attach the brass barrel (c) to the bracket with bolt
and locknut. Tighten the bolt until it seats against
the barrel, then back-off the bolt 1/4 turn. Hold bolt
from turning, and tighten locknut on bolt. The barrel
must be free to pivot.
a - Shift Cable
b - Shift Cam
c - Barrel
d - Roller
4. Recheck the shift cable adjustment in forward shift
position. The correct shift adjustment will position
the cam far enough on the roller in order to lock the
the reverse gate into forward position. You should
not be able to forcibly push up the reverse gate to-
ward neutral. Pull on the reverse gate by hand to
verify this.
IMPORTANT: The forward locking of the reverse
gate must be met. If not, readjust the shift cable.
LOWER UNIT - 6C-23