www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 2011 H180, volvo sterndrive At the end of last years season (September), I had a 100 hour service done. I havent put it in the water since, but did start it a few times on the flush over the winter. This weekend I did put it in the water and it started right up, but the gear shift would not engage at all. I can press the button in the middle of the throttle so that I can rev the engine, but cannot move the the throttle to engage forward or reverse. Wont budge at all. Same whether the engine is running or off.
Cant help but think it is related to the 100 hour service which typically includes an alignment, maybe the tech missed something minor when it was reassembled. At least thats what I'm hoping. The shop is of course backlogged with service requests as the season cranks up and I'm dreading the idea of waiting a month for them to get around to it and/or calling and raising heck which I prefer not to do with my mechanics.
Any ideas on what could be causing this?

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2010 H180
VP 4.3 190

It sounds suspiciously like your shift cable has frozen up...They do need to be replaced on occasion.

You may be able to work it free by pulling up the handle and jiggling it back and forth (forward/reverse) - don't use too much pressure, though...

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

+1. An alignment adjustment shouldn't have any effect here, especially since that involves shifting the engine, not the drive. I too suspect your cable has frozen up, unless they really goobered something up when they reattached the cable. They usually need replaced every 5-6 years.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

When my lower shift cable went bad, the motor would die as soon as I tried to put it in gear, it would run perfect in neutral, with the throttle, rev fine. Just died as soon as I put it in gear, forward, or reverse. With the lower shift cable frozen, it wouldn't let the neutral kill switch activate properly, and just died....

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Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp

My first step would be calling the dealer and explaining the situation. Any decent shop would get you in front of the line for a come back repair. If they don't, you can feel confident that finding another mechanic was the right move.

Chase the cable from the shifter and unhook it. See if it's internally bound.

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H210SS 6.2
F150 Platinum

To add to what everyone else has said, the VP shift cable has to be disconnected at the drive to remove the drive, to check alignment. Make sure they reconnected it and properly!

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes, if the shift lever moves and it won't select drive, it's probably the outer shift cable clamp on the outdrive. They forgot to clamp it ( or forgot to connect the shift cable to the actuator properly). Either way it's their responsibility to sort it out.

Edit; depending on year, there's a button to press before the shift lever can be moved.

Thanks for all the input guys. The mechanic bumped to the front of the line, said it had nothing to do with the 100 hour service at the end of last season, was instead a frozen shifter cable. $50 for a new cable, $250 for labor and we're on the water in time for the new season.

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2010 H180
VP 4.3 190

That's awesome! Thanks for the follow up, it's great for the person searching 5 years from now, hoping to get some answers. Enjoy the year, summer is near!

_________________
Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp