Quick silver shifter

[joe b.]

I have an 87 20 foot overnight we with an I/o and a quick silver top mount shifter.im wondering
how much play should be in there before engaging into gear.i have about 3inches each way before engaging.is this normal and if not is there any adjustment at shifter it's a mercruiser

 

[DennisG01]

You'll have to be more specific. Do you mean you move the shift handle and nothing, at all, starts to happen back at the engine until the handle moves at least 3 inches? That's not correct. If, however, you're talking about the handle needing to move about 3" before it clicks and the drive clunks into gear, then that's pretty much normal with any manufacturer's shifter. If you watch what happens at the engine while someone moves the shifter, it'll make more sense. By the way, make sure you move the shift handle QUICKLY to get it into gear - otherwise you'll be grinding the drive's gears.

Do you have an Alpha (I assume) or Bravo drive?