1987 OMC Cobra; stalls or sputters when going from neutral to fwd... then goes...????

[robertocb]

My boat and I need help!!!! I have a 1987 Regal empress with a 4.3l OMC cobra. Shes an old gal but for the most part runs great with one exception.
starts up great, no issues. Idles wonderfully, o issues. goes into reverse with out a problem or complaint. BUT going from neutral to FWD is a problem. If I move the shift lever fwd slowly and just a tad, it will go fwd very slowly, if I continue the shift fwd to accelerate, it either stalls or begins to miss and run poorly and after a bit, then ti takes off running great!!
Where do I start to trouble shoot??? any one see this before???
Thanks!

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: 1987 OMC Cobra; stalls or sputters when going from neutral to fwd... then goes...

While I dont have, and have never worked on that kind.
I think there is some sort of shift interupter, that sounds like it sticking or out of adjustment. Get you book and see if there is one, then readjust it per the specs.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1987 OMC Cobra; stalls or sputters when going from neutral to fwd... then goes...

Going into gear, you have 2 problems. 1, the lower shift cable is activating when it shouldn't. Typically because they are old, corroded, and stiff in movement. Replacing is the only cure.
2. The reason it dies, is because the engine isn't running very well. The ESA system only causes misfire on half the cylinders, which causes the engine to run rough for a split second. If it dies, the engine needs work too.
It also sounds like the shift interrupt switch is doing what it's supposed to do.

 

[robertocb]

Re: 1987 OMC Cobra; stalls or sputters when going from neutral to fwd... then goes...

Thanks, I'll check that!

 

[robertocb]

Re: 1987 OMC Cobra; stalls or sputters when going from neutral to fwd... then goes...

Thanks! I'll check this too!