225 optimax only goes into gear 3 out of every 10 times

[green weenie]

Wont shift into gear right. Lots of clicking and grinding when going into forward. Reverse is always fine. Does anyone know how to diagnose and fix. Have I caused any damage. When it does go into gear it runs great. Thanks

[Team Fugowee]

Are all components OEM.
Most Billet shifters do not have enough throw to work properly without modifying.
Shift cable anchor at either end broken.
Cable outer sheath out of anchor, making cable movement shorter.
Kids playing in boat shifting with out engine running.

[snapitoff2002]

Sounds like your shift linkage is slightly off.... Next time you are on the water, bring some tools, and see if Reverse pops in a little quicker on the pull back, than it does pushing into Forward. You can adjust this very easily with just a few tools. adjust it a little, then try it, adjust some more, until perfect.

[Ally03 200xs]

Wont shift into gear right. Lots of clicking and grinding when going into forward. Reverse is always fine. Does anyone know how to diagnose and fix. Have I caused any damage. When it does go into gear it runs great. Thanks

Yeah, mine was doing the same thing but going into reverse instead of forward. I adjusted it using the following directions found here:

http://allisonowners.com/mercshifter.html

You might want to pull you lower unit drain plug and clean off any metal shaving on the magnet from the gears grinding and clicking.

Hope this helps...

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

I took it to Inland Marine who found something under the Hot foot pedal that wa causing it to idle fast and was effecting the shifting. They removed the trash and it works fine now.