OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

[geo1wmd]

I pulled my out drive an replaced the transom shift cable. replaced bellows an cant get the outdrive back on. im about 2 " out pulled the out drive back out tonight an found the new shaft bellow is ripped I just dont get it . Any help would be great!! Oh I pulled the ripped bellow out an for kicks tried to put the out drive on without the bellow thinking it was hanging it up...still the same 2 " out??

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Well, first off you have to reach in and turn the u-joint so the splines line up.
Once the splines align it will slip right in up to the dual o-rings, you have to go easy on greasing the splines, to much grease and you'll get hydraulic lock once those o-rings seal.
I can't imagine how the new bellow would have been torn? were you in there with something sharp prying or what?

 

[geo1wmd]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Thanks a70eliminator


Im new at this,: But I should have said more. When I got the outdrive up to the spline I turned the u-joint with a screw driver till it locked in place. Also I oiled the new O rings and put dish soap on the new bellows. But as I said pulled the new ripped bellow and tried to put the out drive on still no good. Drive gets right to the studs and hangs! I have to be missing something here!

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

You lined-up good on the shift-fork?, don't see how you couldn't be, but you did mess with the cable. Just thinking... Did the bellows rip at the opening (not the clamp end)?? My guess would be yes.

Just remembererd this too, found this out the hard-way. The nose of the boat has to be as low as possible, if you have a tounge-jack, it will not go low enough. I put mine on a floor-jack about 6 ft aft on the trailer and put the coupling on the ground, jack folded-up. This way you go straight-in and the joiner between the U-joints does not try to "Kink" on ya. This method, for me, makes the R&R easy. I fought mine the first try until I figured that one out.

You check your alignment??? Sagging motor-mounts will keep the shaft from going back also. It'll come out, but won't go back....Ask me how I know.......

 

[geo1wmd]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Thanks Rideplate.
I?m going to lower my trailer this evening an give that a shot. The bellows did rip at the front, and yes the shift fork is lined up great. If that doesn?t work I will have to find an alinement tool don?t have a clue were to find one but. I have a friend that has a merc. Outdrive an he said he has never seen anything like this. I talked with two different service guys they said everything I was doing seemed right an it should slide right in. Said if I couldn?t get it, bring it in but it would be at least a month before they could get to it. Man I already missed Memorial day weekend looks like I may miss the 4th also

 

[ljsweeney]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

I will have to find an alinement tool don?t have a clue were to find one.

eBay.

I just ordered mine yesterday. $25.00 + shipping.

Good luck.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Thanks Rideplate.
I?m going to lower my trailer this evening an give that a shot. The bellows did rip at the front, and yes the shift fork is lined up great. If that doesn?t work I will have to find an alinement tool don?t have a clue were to find one but. I have a friend that has a merc. Outdrive an he said he has never seen anything like this. I talked with two different service guys they said everything I was doing seemed right an it should slide right in. Said if I couldn?t get it, bring it in but it would be at least a month before they could get to it. Man I already missed Memorial day weekend looks like I may miss the 4th also

Don' give up. Get a straight-shot, you'll go wow...........I find the Cobra easier to get back on than a Cruiser.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Yep very easy, I like to lean the drive back just a tad while resting the skeg on a block of wood, then scootch it up slowly and tip it forward and in , when it gets the studs just jiggle it a little and hopefully it slides right in.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Yep very easy, I like to lean the drive back just a tad while resting the skeg on a block of wood, then scootch it up slowly and tip it forward and in , when it gets the studs just jiggle it a little and hopefully it slides right in.

This is my method too.. I get my alignment feeling like butter.. I can install my drive PDQ.. Takes the more time to remove the old gasket and sticking on the new one than to get the drive on.. If it is tough to install.. Something is wrong..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=MYwnK8mjHdw

Here ya go.. How it is done

 

[2glasply]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

they make a new and improved bellow boot so it slides in the cobros r kind of a pain to get splined in u need a shaft to make sure its lining up in the drive they have to be perfect to go in.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Thanks Rideplate.
I?m going to lower my trailer this evening an give that a shot. The bellows did rip at the front, and yes the shift fork is lined up great. If that doesn?t work I will have to find an alinement tool don?t have a clue were to find one but. I have a friend that has a merc. Outdrive an he said he has never seen anything like this. I talked with two different service guys they said everything I was doing seemed right an it should slide right in. Said if I couldn?t get it, bring it in but it would be at least a month before they could get to it. Man I already missed Memorial day weekend looks like I may miss the 4th also

If the alignment isn't correct you're asking for trouble. Get the tool & check it. More than likely, that's why the drive won't go back in. An out of alignment drive/engine can blow a coupler & if it goes you'll be pulling the engine & drive to replace it. I've never heard of lowering the trailer to get the drive to line up. The only correct way to do it is to get the tool & check it & make the necessary adjustments at the motor mount. Shortcuts don't work.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

I've never heard of lowering the trailer to get the drive to line up

That's cause you wasn't paying attention..

You align the engine with the tool( A must have).. The trailer is moved around just to keep ya from wearing out your back during the install of the drive.. Not to align anything... You young fellas who don't mind lifting and wrestling that heavy thing more power to ya.. It sure is easy to use the trailer jack to kinda get it level and slide your drive on with minimum of lifting... I wanta go boating without hemorrhoids thank you

 

[geo1wmd]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Could someone please put a link to ebay for this tool, I don?t seem to be able to find one.

Thanks for all you guys help. Makes me feel good people still care an try to help other people in this day an age

 

[geo1wmd]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Never mind someone was nice enough to send me a link in a pm

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

You are going to find that the alignment is critical. The drive should slide in easily.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

That's cause you wasn't paying attention..

You align the engine with the tool( A must have).. The trailer is moved around just to keep ya from wearing out your back during the install of the drive.. Not to align anything... You young fellas who don't mind lifting and wrestling that heavy thing more power to ya.. It sure is easy to use the trailer jack to kinda get it level and slide your drive on with minimum of lifting... I wanta go boating without hemorrhoids thank you

Right!!! It's called reading and comprehension. Nothing to do with alignment..........

 

[geo1wmd]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

OK I have an update, found an alignment tool local for a 120.00 ( they sure are proud of that thing). Tried to push that bad boy in an it hits will not even try to go in. Now I am no rocket scientist but this is crazy makes no since. Guess when it cools down I am gonna look at my motor mounts that?s all I can think of now. Cant for the life of me see how the thing could slide right out with no prob. An be that far out.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

Cant for the life of me see how the thing could slide right out with no prob. An be that far out.

It happens. Hopefully your coupler isn't too worn. More than likely, you will be raising the front of your motor to compensate for the stringers settling. Hopefully your stringers aren't rotting.

 

[joemamma]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

OK CALM DOWN,
If the alignment tool goes in easy your coupler is aligned with your gimbal bearing.
My cobra hangs up at about the same place, Mine hangs on the seal at end of the bellows on the cv joint.
I put a small block of wood behind the tilt plate just under the exhaust bellows. I then block under the skeg at exactly the right level , slip the shaft in until the splines engage then send it home with a giggle and some love. Don't try to hold the weight it'll never go.

 

[donberry]

Re: OMC Cobra 88 help newbie

I am no expert and just did my very first one myself a couple of weeks ago - the alignment tool has to slide in very easy, if it doesn't or is hitting anything, you have to adjust the engine accordingly.
If it is "hard" to get in, even if you do get the drive on by pushing, prying, wiggling etc, you are now just asking for the u-joints to fail.
I am not sure why you paid $120 for one, I got mine off of ebay for $25.00 I believe.
If the alignment tool does not just slide in easily - I'd stop and adjust the engine if I didn't want to be pulling the drive again soon.
My son pretty much held the drive up by himself while I was going to align it - didn't really need to as it slipped right in.