Mercruiser shift cable adjustment *Install help *Tools

Step by step instructions on how to adjust cable
How to modify the bell housing to install the new style cable
Exploded view Mercruiser tech drawings
Mercruiser/MR/Alpha 1 lower shift cable kit OEM 865436A03, Sierra 18-2603

Parts included in GLM Marine aftermarket Mercruiser shift cable assembly service kit

21450 Complete
Shift Cable Kit
OEM 865436A03

21450 shift cable kit

P/N 21450

GLM Marine aftermarket Mercruiser cable with newer style sets with larger core wire.
This installs from the AFT end of the bell housing. Models from the mid 1960's - 1982 used cables which threaded in from behind the housing.
You can make an easy modification to the housing yourself by using a 1/4 X 18 NPSF pipe thread tap from inside of the housing OEM number 865436A03. $89.95

GLM Marine aftermarket Mercruiser Kit includes:
P/N 21750 Set screw 10-45590
P/N 21080 Slide / 850752-1
P/N 21090 Set screw / 10-31700
P/N 21140 Shaft lever / 45518A3
P/N 21430 Guide set / 43433
P/N 21432 Anchor / 43436
P/N 21433 Set screws / 10-20518
P/N 21462 Wrapping and wire / 38473
P/N 21463 Insert / 14705
P/N 21464 Stainless steel core wire
P/N 21710 Cable assembly / 41951A1
P/N 21750 Set screw 10-45590
P/N 21790 Bellows clip / 54-38863
P/N 21791 Hose clamp / 54-85504320
P/N 31160 Rubber gasket / 27-35982
P/N 39622 Bell housing gasket set / 27-94996T2
P/N 80120 Drive shaft o rings 25-48171
P/N 82200 O ring 25-33504
P/N 89080 Bellow / 74639A2

21451 Basic Shift Kit 865436A02

P/N 21451 Same as above, but does not include gasket kit, shift arm, bellows or set screws OEM 865436A02. $89.99

GLM Marine aftermarket Mercruiser Kit includes:

P/N 21080 Slide / 850752-1
P/N 21090 Set screw / 10-31700
P/N 21140 shaft lever / 45518A3
P/N 21430 Guide set / 43433
P/N 21432 Anchor, Mercruiser OEM number/ 43436
P/N 21433 Set screws / 10-20518
P/N 21462 Wrapping and wire / 38473
P/N 21463 Insert / 14705
P/N 21464 Stainless steel core wire
P/N 21710 Assembly / 41951A1

21710 Alpha 1 shift cable

P/N 21710 GLM marine aftermarket shift cable assembly OEM number 41951A1 $58.95

Newer style cable with larger core wire.
This shift cable installs from the AFT end of the housing.
Shift cable models from the mid 1960's - 1982 used cables which threaded in from behind the housing.
You can make an easy modification to the bell housing yourself by using a 1/4-18 NPT tap (pipe thread) from inside of the housing.
Compatible with all Mercruiser 1 / R and Alpha one models.

89080

P/N 89080 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser bellow / 74639A2 $11.95 Includes small clamp for top of bellow

21791

P/N 21791 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser hose clamp 1-3/4 inch outside diameter for above bellows 54-85504320 $3.95

21463 Alpha 1 insert

P/N 21463 Insert / 14705 $3.95

21790 small end

P/N 21790 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser small end of bellow clamp 54-38863 $3.95

39622 outdrive gasket

P/N 39622 Bell housing gasket set 27-94996T2 $9.95 Includes rubber gasket 27-35982, o ring 25-33504 and two drive shaft o rings 25-48171

21430 Alpha 1 Guide set

P/N 21430 Guide set / 43433 $14.99 Includes 2 set screws 10-20518 and anchor 43436

21140 Mercruiser Alpha One shift shaft arm

P/N 21140 Upper Shift shaft lever, Mercruiser OEM number 45518A3 $26.99 Includes set screw 10-45590

21433 set screws

P/N 21433 Set screws (10 units) 10-20518 $9.95

21750 Mercruiser shift shaft arm set screw

P/N 21750 Set screw OEM 10-45590 $3.95

21432 anchor

P/N 21432 Anchor, Mercruiser OEM number 43436 $6.95

21080 Shift cable slide with set screw

P/N 21080 Slide 850752-1 $11.95

21462 Alpha 1 wrapping

P/N 21462 Wrapping and wire / 38473 $3.95

21144 Shift lever kit

P/N 21144 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser lever repair kit OEM number 45518T1 for MC-1, R, MR, Alpha one and Alpha One Gen ii outdrive $51.95

87561 bushing seal kit

P/N 87561 Shift shaft bushing, Mercruiser OEM number 23-805041A2 $36.99

Use with

Mercruiser 1, R, MR
Alpha one
Alpha 1 Generation 2 engine serial number F094774 and bellow

87562 Mercruiser Alpha One generation 2 shift shaft bushing

P/N 87562 Shift shaft bushing OEM 23-806036A1 for Alpha One Gen ii serial number F094775 and up $14.99

21453 Bravo shift cable kit

P/N 21453 for Mercruiser Bravo 1, 2 and 3
Shift cable assembly kit OEM 815471T1
$134.95

21431 Guide 43433
21432 Anchor 43436
21433 Set Screw 10-20518
21463 Insert 14705
21711 Shift Cable 865437A02
21790 Bellow Clip 54-38863
21791 Hose Clamp 54-85504320
80180 0-ring 25-62705
81180 0-ring 25-25439
81190 0-ring 25-29845
81270 0-ring 25-457101
81570 0-ring 25-97387
82150 0-ring 25-35027
86310 Seal 1675501
89081 Bellow

21711 Bravo cable

P/N 21711 Bravo 1 / 2 / 3 (does not include bellows or seals) 815471A6 $88.95

Kit Contains:

21162 Nut, Mercruiser OEM number 11-49910
21462 Wrapping
38473 Wrapping
21712 Shift Cable
32600 Gasket, Mercruiser OEM number 12-815472

21420 mercruiser outdrive shift shaft bell housing

P/N 21420 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser upper shift shaft OEM 45589A3 for MC-1, R, MR and Alpha One outdrives $74.99

21419 Alpha Gen 2 upper shift shaft

P/N 21419 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser upper shift shaft OEM 816685 for Alpha One Generation 2 $46.95

21421 Intermediate shift shaft 62104-1

P/N 21421 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser intermediate shift shaft OEM 62104-1 $51.99

Mercruiser 1, R and MR outdrives
Alpha One bell housings

21418 Bravo upper shift shaft

P/N 21418 GLM Marne aftermarket Mercruiser upper shaft OEM 12711 for Mercruiser Bravo outdrives $47.95

Need Tech support

Technical support is available from

Wayne our tech service rep in person Toronto, Canada location
Search on Goggle for YouTube videos by Wayne Coll or T.C. Electronics/Marine
There is about 72 boat repair video in total as of 2019 there is no charge to view

Example of Mercruiser sterndrive videos on YouTube

Mercruiser outdrive shift cable and bellows repairs 593,200 views
Water pump removal and repair video 320,200 views
How do I remove my Alpha One gen 2 lower unit 76,000 views
65 repair video on YouTube for Mercury Marine outboard or Mercruiser outdrive parts
Help to identify Mercruiser and Alpha One or Generation 2 outdrive
and identify your Mercury and Yamaha outboard parts
Shift cable kits and video with tech drawing

How To Adjust the Cable

By author Trish Dougherty

First, examine the condition of the connections on the unit. If there is any corrosion on the connections, make sure to clean it with a wire brush. You can access the cable by removing the cover of the engine, and looking for the shift control which is located on the plate towards the back left side of the engine. Loosen the nut on the bolt that is located on the left side of the shift plate. Make sure to push the bolt down when re-tightening the bolt if it was not in the lowest position.
Manually turn the propeller counterclockwise with your hands, while someone else slowly pushes the shift control into the forward position all the way. The prop shaft should stop as soon as forward gear has engaged. Remove any slack in the cable by pulling on the cover that goes over the shift cable on the side near the lever bolt. Look for the brass cylinder and pin, and remove them. Turn the cylinder to remove any extra cable. The hole where the pin was should be lined up with the end of the cable when it is adjust correctly.
Turn the brass cylinder away from the plastic guide a few turns after you have aligned the pin hole and the end of the cable. Return the cylinder and end of the cable into where they were on the plate. Install the pin and nuts. Manually turn the propeller clockwise this time, while someone else pulls the lever in the full reverse position. The shaft should lock out once reverse gear is engaged.
If the drive did not engage into reverse, loosen the lever bolt located on the rear left side of the engine that you loosened and tightened earlier. This time instead of pushing the bolt down, push it up a little and re-tighten the nut. Check to see if you can engage the drive into reverse (step 3 by turning propeller clockwise while someone pulls the lever into reverse). If it doesn't engage into reverse, keep adjusting the position of the stud in the shift plate until it does. Make sure to double check all the connections before closing up the engine cover. *Note - if you can't get the drive to engage into gear after you make several attempts at adjusting it, the cable has stretched out more than an adjustment can fix. You will need to replace this cable a new one (P/N 21450 OEM 865436A03).

Customers who purchased shift cables all so look at:

89080 Mercruiser Bellow 74639

P/N 89080 Shift cable bellows, installed into the bell housing. OEM 74639. $11.95

508235 Gasket Compound

P/N 508235 Gasket sealing compound. Make sure to use on bell housing outdrive gasket P/N 39622 shown above. $24.95

90110 tool

P/N 90110
GLM Marine aftermarket Mercruiser shift cable tool

Mercruiser OEM number 91-12037 $33.95

88020

P/N 88020 Outdrive service kit includes water pumps and seal kits for Mercruiser MR and Alpha one years 1984-1990 $99.95

Parts included:

P/N 89840 Mercruiser OEM number 47-89984T4 Water pumps impellers
P/N 87510 Lower unit seal kit
P/N 87500 Upper housing seal kit
P/N 12120 Water pumps impeller kit

12110

P/N 12110 Water pump kit for 1970 - 1983 Mercruiser models, serial numbers 2763442 - 6854392 $39.95 Mercruiser MC-1 / R years 1970 - 1983 Serial numbers 2763442 - 6854392 $39.95

Includes:

P/N 89840 / 47-89984T4 Water pumps impellers
P/N 12510 / 32435 Wear plate
P/N 12310 / 46-57234T1 Water pumps base
P/N 31010 / 27-85608-1 Gasket
P/N 11070 / 28-56654 Key
P/N 12410 / 46-96148T1 Water pumps impellers housing
P/N 12820 / 23-29804T Water pumps guide tube
P/N 12810 / 48752 Impellers cup

21950 Bellows kit 30-803097T1

P/N 21950 Transom bellows kit years 1973 to 1990, serial numbers 3469428 - 0D469800 Mercruiser OEM number 30-803097T1 $145.95

Includes:

P/N 21906 Gimbal bearing
P/N 39622 bell housing gasket
P/N 47110/47120 water pumps hoses
P/N 89050 drive shaft bellow
P/N 89080 shift cable bellow
P/N 89100 exhaust bellow
P/N 85910 oil seal

21950

P/N 21950K *most popular* Same kit as above, also includes bellows adhesive glue and hinge pin removal/installation tool$179.99