****fable -vs non-shiftable OB's

[GregP]

Another beginner question since I'm just starting to look into ouboard Cats. I've seen mention that some motors (2.5's for example) can't be shifted while running (OB equivalent to IO crash boxes I'd guess) while others can. Checking the OB specs on Mercs web site I don't see anything that distinquishes which motors can shift while running and which can't. Is there a quick way to tell, or a short list of those that can and can't?

Thanks - Greg

[T-REX]

All recreational geer cases are shiftable!!!...sum race geer cases are not....It is better for tha longtivity ov tha geercase to start in geer, and not shift, but is not a reely safe thang to do...Large pitch wheelz are a reel shock to tha shift dogz and geerz when U shift it into geer while motor iz running, but they are all shiftable!!

[Raceman]

What Rex already said, plus.............. if you're lookin' in a Merc high perf catalogue it's real easy to see which ones don't shift: the ones with the 12" mids and the Speedmaster gearcases.

[GregP]

Thanks. Guess the boat I was reading the test on (32 Skater with Trip 2.5's) must have had special race cases then.

-Greg

[Raceman]

I would doubt that somebody put Speedmasters on a 32' Skater with triple outboards. That's just not their enviroment and for all practical purposes the powerheads have to turn backwards and the gearcases rotate backwards also, so you'd have 3 lefthand gearcases. There were in the past ways around all that, but the parts for the conversions seem long gone an props are almost non existent for R rotation also.

If the test said "non shiftable", someone likely modified the CLE/Sportmaster style gearcases to make them foward gear only, for whatever reason they thought it necessary. Some people have felt that removing or cutting the teeth from the reverse gear is worth a few free HP from less paddle wheeling in the gear oil, but I've done it and never could tell any difference.

I'd count on shiftable gearcases if you're thinkin' of a fast outboard project. Like Rex said, it's easier on em to fix em where they'll crank in gear, but there's a lot more potential for accident, especially if anybody else ever drives your boat.

[GregP]

Actually, I was interested to make sure I didn't get into something that you can't shift with the engines running. I think that having to kill the motors to shift each time would make docking a real pain.

I'm looking into moving from my 40' V to a 32-35' OB cat ... just in case anyone has one laying around :D

Thanks - Greg

[LaserModVee]

The early left handed CLE's were forward only from the factory.

Non-shiftable. Point and shoot.

They are practically bulletproof.

It's not that big of a deal since your have the shiftable starboard motor to manuveur with.

[sho305]

I'm going to mount a momentary, or horn type button to disable the in-gear start safety so I can use it when I can. Maybe where someone else driving would not find it.

Don't a lot of the hi-po motors idle faster and the big pitch props are more load that make shifting harder as well? Suppose that is obvious, also remember Raceman saying he has run no timing retard on some motors like inlines.

[Raceman]

Lazer, that's a new one on me. I didn't realize Merc ever made a full size non shiftable gearcase...............never heard any mention of it before.

Sho, I've actually run all of my V6's with Speedmasters with the timing locked at full advance. That's the way they come from the factory on all the Speedmaster equipped motors and have since the very first T3's.

I don't think it's so much that the hi po motors require more idle RPM as it is that they might have to run a tad faster not to stall when you suddenly engage a 30 plus pitch blade. There's no question it's a shock to the gears.

Some Mercruisers (Alphas I'm pretty sure) have or at least did have a circuit in the shift mechanism that momentarily kills the ignition as it goes into another gear to lesten the shock to the drive and lower. Properly adjusted the driver is unaware. Maybe something similar could rigged for a twin outboard boat to serve the same purpose.

[LaserModVee]

The early ones, like the original 1987 left hander CLE on my Skater is that way.
Whenever I bought the boat I was baffled to see it was factory rigged with only one Latham shifter and two throttles!

After researching it with ex-offshore racers and long time twin powered outboard owners, I found out that was the norm back then and I have seen quite a few others since.

I have taken the gearcase to two different experienced and trusted mechanics in the past, both had never heard of one. In fact, they both told me it had to be somethng someone had modified. They look at me like I'm crazy. Or give me that, "oh boy, we have an expert on our hands" sarcastic look to me. :D

Rather than argueing, I let them discover it on their own. When they pop the case it is immedeatly evident that things are way different.

[sho305]

No doubt about the big prop killing it; even with my little inline I had to raise the idle going from a 21 Merc aluminum to a 20 Laser SS that runs identical rpms, just for the extra prop weight. I tried a composite prop for a bit and it would not want to shift fast and rattle some, like the prop was so light the dogs didn't hook fast. Hard to imagine racking a 30p into gear:eek: Oops, I forgot you guys have lighter SS props:) Didn't think that would help mine much to have it lightened.

[Raceman]

Sho, I'd guess it's more a matter of pitch than weight.

[sho305]

Yeah a 30 would be pushing a lot more water when it turned. You must be going pretty good speed in a no-wake at idle. Always thought someone would come up with a better clutch, but I guess it is not worth the extra weight (for the non-race LUs), or a gizmo under the powerhead so the LU could stay small. Even a lowly belt would be enough to get away from a dock.

[Dd24skater]

I have had a lh non shiftable since 88 when I bought the 2.4 brand new and have no problems with it. I would highly recomend it to any one

Dd

[Mark75H]

To my knowledge ALL Mercruisers use momentary ignition kill for shifting. I think they are set up so the torque holds the shifter engaged, without interupting the power you can't even pull them out of gear.

[Racemore]

It's not so much the speed.We had 28's on the Motion with BP efi's and we always shut the motors of and started them in gear if we were manuvering around.Idleing with both motors in gear and putting one in reverse running is a hell of a bang on the case without momentary off switches which race motors don't have.We put them through enough abuse racing and still broke a few of them.Not to mention the stress saved on the shift cables.:cool:

[Motion35]

I've got a 2003 35' Motion, 2003 2.5 EFI Offshores. Marine Machine steering. Never been in water. 2001 South Florida triple axle trailer. FOR SALE.

[GregP]

Originally posted by Motion35
I've got a 2003 35' Motion, 2003 2.5 EFI Offshores. Marine Machine steering. Never been in water. 2001 South Florida triple axle trailer. FOR SALE.


Would be great, but a 2003 is almost certaily going to be out of my budget (~$75k).

Thanks anyway - Greg

[Motion35]

Greg, I saw in an earlier post that you had a question about Lightning cats. Were you referring to the one on eBay with triples? Did that boat sell?

[GregP]

That was the one I saw. Neither e-bay auction went through. It was on boat trader, but is gone now.

-Greg

[presto]

I have a 24 skater with twin 2.5 EFI offshores and I too never shift them when they are running. It is a tremendous bang on the gears and I have always been told to shut them down before shifting.

This being said I really do not see it as a problem when docking, going through locks or even onto the trailer. I does take some getting used to but I hear by doing this the Cases (CLE) will last a lot longer and therefore save big $$$.