87 omc outdrive

[willard887]

Has reverse no forward. Unhooked shift cable and tried engaging that way, no good. Adjustments dont help it will not fully engage into forward. Could this be the cable or dog in the lower unit? is there an adjustment in the lower unit? I think im screwed here any help is appreciated

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

I'm just gonna take a stab at pulling outdrive off and tearing it down. Don't know if there are any OMC guys out there on the forums to help

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

I have the manual in pdf format if that helps. I think it may have came from this site - forgot where.

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

I have a Seloc stern drive manual. I was just hoping somebody had a little input before this teardown happens.
i just pray its not in the gears I hope its just a streched cable.

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

teardown was a disaster, Gonna call a service dept. and see if they can help. This might just be the end of the boat right here I'm sure this is gonna cost me over a grand

 

[BansheeVision]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

What did you find? I have a 84' 800 stringer matched to a 350. I'm rebuilding the engine and about ready to put it back in. I'm holding breath/crossing fingers/and clenching sphincter hoping it won't s**t the bed and fly apart.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

I am assuming its a stringer

without taking the lower unit off, or checking where the shift cable meets the control cable, you can only be guessing.

if you have had the lower unit off, did you set it back correctly where the shift cable goes into the shift rod assembly in the lower? sounds like you may be one tooth off on the gear/rack.

many times it can be a bad shift cable. some times its a bad gear set.

 

[Don S]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

It's not a stringer, it's the Cobra drive. 85 was the last year of the stringer.

Willard, SEI makes a conversion kit for the Cobra drive that costs about 350 bucks. This kit will allow you to install a Mercruiser Alpha I Gen II outdrive in place of the obsolete Cobra. A brand new SEI outdrive with a 3 year warranty runs about $1500

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

Thank you everyone for your input you guys are the best

 

[contractorguy]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

What did you find when you tore it down?

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

very short throw for forward gear, leaking gaskets stripped bolts someone had been there before. The shop is going to look at it next week they think they can get me going for about $500. if that dont work i'm going with Don's idea

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

shop tore it down and got my forward back but they said it wasnt pumping water. It pumped fine before i took it there they better not try to hammer me but thats what i get for not bieng an OMC tech.

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

Well got the boat back from the shop. Got my forward back but...... When i throttle up there is a thump thump thump like its jumping a gear. full throttle planed out it does it, half throttle it does it. Tach reads 4500 35 M.P.H but the lower unit just keeps thumping. Any ideas? Forward gear in lower unit shot? I cant see putting a $1000 in this 1987 boat

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

kinda feel like im sittin in this forum all alone. ive read old threads figured out whats wrong. Thanks guys

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

Your first problem sounds like your lower shift cable failed and that is why it wouldn't go into forward...very common for the Cobra drive. Unfortunately, it was run this way for awhile which caused your second problem of the forward dog clutch failing which is now a VERY expensive fix which will require replacing the dog clutch in the lower drive.

When OMC came out with the Cobra in 86, a batch of bad cables caused the exact problems you have now and many drives were repaired under warranty with your exact problem including one that I had.

 

[skidooseadoo83]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

glad you got it figured out. For future feference here is a link i share a lot. Remove some of the mystification about Cobra outdrives and the dreaded shift cables. Good stuff to know and share.

Don, thanks for the mod info. Good to know there are options out there when poop hits the fan and you cant find any OMC toilet paper.

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

glad you got it figured out.

Maybe I missed his post where he said he got it figured out. To me it sounds like he has bigger issues than when he started.

 

[willard887]

Re: 87 omc outdrive

no never got it figured out, but did find out i got a cracked engine block to go along with the other problem. I'm just grateful i found a buyer for it i'm taking a $400 loss but at least its gone! I'm looking at another bayliner thats bee completely redone. wish me luck!