installing omc cobra outdrive help

68dustin

Seaman
Joined
Jun 26, 2009
Messages
71
do any of you guys have any pointers or tricks to installing one of these. Ive read about a alignment tool, but i dont know which one to get. It seems like when im sliding it in the yoke wants to fall down a bit and stop, right where it should slide in. when i look inside with a light it pretty much a straight shot... what gives???

ive also been reading that my bellows could be swollen which is causing me problems from sliding the yoke in. when im trying to put it on it seems to be hanging up at that location.
 

sea wolf

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Apr 3, 2002
Messages
1,219
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

You can't eye the alignment. You must use the tool. You can find them on ebay for about $50. Trust me, if it's not lined up you will fight with it until you cry uncle, buy the tool & line it up using the alignment bar. And you'll save the engine coupler in the process.
 

danond

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
1,118
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

As with all OMC owners, you need a factory service manual. Installing the drive by yourself is very difficult. It's better if you have someone hold the drive and the other guy lines up the u-joint. Otherwise the joint folds when you're pushing the drive forward.
 

68dustin

Seaman
Joined
Jun 26, 2009
Messages
71
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

You can't eye the alignment. You must use the tool. You can find them on ebay for about $50. Trust me, if it's not lined up you will fight with it until you cry uncle, buy the tool & line it up using the alignment bar. And you'll save the engine coupler in the process.



so when i buy the alignment tool .. how do i adjust the motor to line it up? Im assuming the motor mounts? front and rear?
 

68dustin

Seaman
Joined
Jun 26, 2009
Messages
71
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

ok.. well i just ordered the alignment tool and new bellows.
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,125
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

Get the alignment tool
go to www.crowleymarine.com look in product support...OMC Cobra drives...it has the R&R procedure there, as well as the gear oil change procedure...
then build one of these (I used 2x6s and adjustable casters) cost less than $50 and took about 2 hrs...makes it almost easy....first time took me 1/2 hr to get it on...last time 2 min...after I had the gasked in place and everything lined up....
 

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danond

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
1,118
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

so when i buy the alignment tool .. how do i adjust the motor to line it up? Im assuming the motor mounts? front and rear?

Close. Rears are non-adjustable. Also, order a manual. It has all these answers in it. You'll need it if you plan on keeping the drive.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,592
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

Inspect the splines on the shaft for visible wear, generally if the splines
are worn then the coupler is also worn. If wear is evident replace the parts
as needed.


NEVER Force the alignment tool in, you can damage the tool and the coupler.

NOTE: If you find the tool will not slide into the gimbal simply remove the
black coating on the largest step with fine sand paper.


1) Once you have the engine height close enough to
fully insert the tool without force, then you can start
working on setting the proper alignment.

Take your time, getting it close enough to insert the
tool the first time can sometimes be the hardest (most
frustrating) part.

2) Coat the end section of the tool (the smallest diameter
area) with a light coat of grease and then insert it fully
into the coupler.

3) Without turning the tool, pull it straight out and look at
the depth of the teeth marks in the grease.

If the teeth marks in the grease are deep on the
top side and shallow on the bottom side of the tool then
your motor is too high.

If the marks in the grease are deeper on the bottom than
on the top then your motor is too low.

4) Adjust the engine height accordingly.

5) Keep checking the depth of the marks in the grease until
they are equal in depth on top and bottom.

Sometimes as little as 1/8th of a turn on the adjusting nut can be the
difference between being properly aligned, and just having it "close"

Lightly Grease the splines on the shaft (and on the coupler if you can) with
Spline grease prior to assembly.
 

68dustin

Seaman
Joined
Jun 26, 2009
Messages
71
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

thanks guys.. i will be back with more questions... waiting for my parts...
 

68dustin

Seaman
Joined
Jun 26, 2009
Messages
71
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

thanks everyone for all the great help and this forum.... I replaced my bellows and got the alignment tool, and the install of the outdrive took me 15 mins by myself with no hoist. The outdrive slid right on with no troubles. The bellows were all my problems and luckly my outdrive was not out of alignmnet. When i got home from the lake yesterday the gear fluid still looked fresh with no milk.. The only problem is now: i can only adjust my linkage to have forward, but no reverse. Or reverse with no forward.. is there any special techniques to adjusting the shift linkage? 88 sundbird corsiar with 4.3l and omc cobra outdrive..
 

danond

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
1,118
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

Your shift adjustment is wrong, or your transom shift cable is shot (probably both).


(in a shouting voice)

Get

...a

...SERVICE MANUAL! (Grand Canyon echoing is heard and angry mob appears, chases you into an alley and pummels you with OMC service manuals they all purchased from eBay).

:D
 

sea wolf

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
1,219
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

You don't need a shop manuel to adjust the cable. Just do a search here by typing in OMC Cobra Shift Cable. There are a ton of posts here on the subject & a link to a site that will outline the procedure. Sorry, but you will more than likely have to pull the drive to adjust the bellcrank, & the shift rod. Good luck.
 
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
70
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

Dustin, congratulations on your successful outdrive reinstall; i did mine last year and was NOT as easy as yours was! For your shift cable, check out this link: http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

Anyone who owns a cobra outdrive should print it and put it in their service manual. It is the Bible for shift cables on an OMC. It details exactly how to check your shift cables, how to adjust, ect. And, as you will learn from reading this, you DO NOT want to run your boat with them out of adjustment, unless you are looking to purchase a new outdrive. Good luck.
 

wht89gt

Cadet
Joined
Feb 25, 2009
Messages
25
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

make sure u put it in foward gear and the fork in the outdrive is pushed all the way to the up position then put the drive on. It happend to me the first time also while your there coat the fork with grease.
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,592
Re: installing omc cobra outdrive help

make sure u put it in foward gear and the fork in the outdrive is pushed all the way to the up position then put the drive on. It happend to me the first time also while your there coat the fork with grease.

First of all, this is an old thread. Second of all, OMC Cobras are installed while in Neutral.
 
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