Shift Arm Lever Assembly 45518A2 for MerCruiser Alpha One Gen 2 18-2161
Shift Arm Lever Assembly 45518A2 for MerCruiser Alpha One Gen 2 18-2161
Product Overview
Shift arm lever assembly for the MerCruiser Alpha One Gen. II, R, MR and Alpha One sterndrives, supplied as 1 x shift arm lever assembly. This is the part the shift cable pulls on at the engine end of the drive. It replaces MerCruiser 45518A2 and 45518A3, it crosses to Sierra 18-2161, Quicksilver 47-89981Q1 and Mallory 9-72153, and it covers the Alpha One Gen. II from 1990 and the older R, MR and Alpha One from 1983 to 1991 as well as the 120 through 898 series listed below.
This is the arm the shift cable pulls on at the engine end of the sterndrive, the part that turns the cable travel into the movement of the shift mechanism in the drive.
It is replaced when the shift will not engage cleanly, when the lever is bent, or when the bush or the pin it pivots on has worn oval. A worn lever gives a shift that goes in but will not stay in, or one that needs the throttle workaround to engage at all.
The same lever is used across a long list of engines because the shift mechanism did not change with the horsepower. The Alpha One Gen. II is the newest, and the R, MR and Alpha One before it use the same lever.
Replacing it is a cable and bracket job rather than a drive off job, which is why it is worth checking before anything bigger is done to a shift problem.
Specifications & Attributes
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | New / New with tags |
| Type | Shift arm lever assembly |
| MerCruiser Part Numbers | 45518A2, 45518A3 |
| Also Recorded As | 45518T1 |
| Sierra Numbers | 18-2161, 182161 |
| Quicksilver Number | 47-89981Q1 |
| Mallory Number | 9-72153 |
| Fits | MerCruiser Alpha One Gen. II, R, MR and Alpha One sterndrives |
| Position | Engine end of the shift cable, on the shift bracket |
| Parts In Kit | 1 piece |
| Quantity | 1 shift arm lever assembly |
| Net Weight | 40 g including packaging |
| Packaging | Pack |
| Warranty | 3 year |
OEM Cross Reference
| Component | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Shift arm lever assembly | 45518A2, 45518A3 |
| Also recorded as | 45518T1 |
| Sierra | 18-2161, 182161 |
| Quicksilver | 47-89981Q1 |
| Mallory | 9-72153 |
| Also recorded in our parts file | 4558A2 |
Our parts file records this lever against 4558A2 as well as 45518A2. The 4558A2 is one digit short of the number on the part and on the manufacturer listing, and it is most likely a misreading of 45518A2. If your old lever is stamped with a number, check it against the table above before ordering.
Compatible Engines
| Engine / Drive | Years |
|---|---|
| Alpha One Gen. II | 1990 to 1998, listed as 1990 to 1998 and up |
| R / MR / Alpha One | 1983 to 1991 |
| 120 / 140 | 1967 to 1982 |
| 160 | 1967 to 1969 |
| 165 | 1970 to 1981 |
| 225-S | 1974 |
| 228 | 1978 to 1982 |
| 233 | 1975 to 1977 |
| 250 | 1977 |
| 260 | 1978 to 1982 |
| 470 | 1976 to 1982 |
| 485 | 1980 to 1982 |
| 888 | 1971 to 1977 |
| 898 | 1978 to 1982 |
| 898 / 228 | 1977 |
This is the application list given on the listing for this lever, covering the Alpha One Gen. II and the earlier R, MR and Alpha One drives and the 120 through 898 engine models that shared the same shift bracket.
The Gen. II line is given on the listing as 1990 to 1998 and up, which does not resolve to a single end year. If your drive is a Gen. II built after 1998, send us the model and the serial number and we will confirm the lever against it rather than rely on the range.
What's Included
| Component | Detail | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Shift arm lever assembly | Replaces 45518A2 and 45518A3, engine end of the shift cable | 1 |
| Bush and pin | Not included unless shown, check the old lever | 0 |
| Shift cable | Not included | 0 |
| Shift bracket | Not included | 0 |
Key Features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Direct replacement | Fits in place of MerCruiser 45518A2 and 45518A3 |
| Cross referenced | Sierra 18-2161 and 182161, Quicksilver 47-89981Q1, Mallory 9-72153 |
| Alpha One Gen. II | The newest of the drives the lever is used on |
| R, MR and Alpha One | The drives from 1983 to 1991 |
| 120 to 898 series | The older engine models on the same shift bracket |
| Engine end of the cable | The lever on the shift bracket, not the drive end |
Signs The Lever Needs Replacing
| What You See | What It Means | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Shift goes in but will not stay in | Worn bush or oval pin hole | Fit a new lever |
| Shift needs throttle workaround to engage | Worn lever, less travel than the cable gives | Fit a new lever |
| Lever bent after a hard shift | Damaged arm | Fit a new lever |
| Cable travel correct but no shift at the drive | Lever slipping on the bracket | Fit a new lever |
| Play in the lever on the bracket | Worn bush or pin | Fit a new lever and check the bush |
| Cable end chewed | Lever hole worn through | Fit a new lever and check the cable end |
Fitting Notes
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the drive model and year against the table above |
| 2 | Put the remote control in neutral before anything is disconnected |
| 3 | Note which hole in the lever the cable end sits in |
| 4 | Disconnect the cable end and take the lever off the bracket |
| 5 | Check the bush and the pin for wear while the lever is off |
| 6 | Fit the new lever in the same position and reconnect the cable end |
| 7 | Adjust the cable so the drive engages in both directions without clashing |
| 8 | Check neutral start and the full shift travel on the water, not just on muffs |
Condition & Warranty
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | New / New with tags |
| Warranty | 3 year |
| Packaging | Pack |
Before You Buy
- Shift arm lever assembly for MerCruiser sterndrives
- Replaces MerCruiser 45518A2 and 45518A3
- Also recorded as 45518T1
- Crosses to Sierra 18-2161 and 182161
- Crosses to Quicksilver 47-89981Q1 and Mallory 9-72153
- Fits the Alpha One Gen. II from 1990
- Fits the R, MR and Alpha One from 1983 to 1991
- Fits the 120 through 898 engine series listed above
- Fits at the engine end of the shift cable
- 40 g with packaging
- 30-Day Easy Returns
- Free Worldwide Shipping
Verfügbarkeit für Abholungen konnte nicht geladen werden
Boat Owners' Review
Before You Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your refund policy?
We offer a 14-day hassle-free return on all products. Items must be unused and in original packaging. Every XRmarine part is also covered by our 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. If something is not right, email us at info@xrmarineparts.com — replacement or full refund, your choice.
See our full Refund Policy for complete details.
How does shipping work?
Free international shipping on every order — no minimums. We operate a global warehouse network with a main distribution centre in Asia (10-20 business days). We also hold stock in regional warehouses across the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland (opening soon) — most orders arrive in 1-3 business days within those countries and in 2-8 business days to nearby regions. Tracking included.
See our full Shipping Policy.
How do you keep prices fair?
We cut out the middlemen. XRmarine sources directly from quality manufacturers and sells at honest prices. Same OEM-quality parts, no dealership markup. Every order comes with free shipping, real expert support, and a 1-year warranty.
Learn more on our About Us page.
What payment methods do you accept?
We currently accept PayPal — a fast, secure way to pay online. Credit card payments (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and Shopify Payments are being set up and will be available soon. We appreciate your patience.