1988 OMC Transom shift cable inside plastic jacket

[MR2010]

I have a "plastic cable organizer conduit" that my Transom Bracket Shift Cable (TBSC) is inside of going through the rubber hose to the engine compartment. Is this needed? What is its purpose?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: 1988 OMC Transom shift cable inside plastic jacket

That sheath is in other words is the shift cable bellows without it your taking on water where the cable goes through the transom.

 

[MR2010]

Re: 1988 OMC Transom shift cable inside plastic jacket

Actually the plastic organizer conduit with the shift cable inside all goes through and is inside the rubber hose that keeps the water out of the engine area. The more I ponder its use I believe it may have been put there as an aid to the cable slipping in and out of the rubber hose during out drive raising and lowering. The shift cable slips in and out easier with the plastic than having to slide across rubber.

And just to be clear, the "plastic cable organizer conduit" I mention is exactly like what you would use behind your TV set to put wires inside to organize them. Here is a website showing the conduit.

http://www.pssl.com/!D2TUVsrkLsV1jMzVS0qAxw!/10-Ft-Cable-Organizer-Conduit-1inch-Diameter-s

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 1988 OMC Transom shift cable inside plastic jacket

Otherwise known as split loom

 

[MR2010]

Re: 1988 OMC Transom shift cable inside plastic jacket

So is the split loom needed? What is its purpose?

 

[MR2010]

Re: 1988 OMC Transom shift cable inside plastic jacket

For those reading this thread I have been able to confirm my suspicions that the plastic conduit (or split loom) around the shift cable is used to help the shift cable to slide in and out of the rubber hose during raising/lowering of the out drive (see my #3 reply above). without the plastic conduit there is more force on the cable trying to slide on rubber making for more strain and binding on the cable and possible premature failure of the cable. Even with the plastic conduit my shift cable jacket broke at the drive end where it goes into the out drive (a common failure point).