OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

[xtreme99]

hello this is my first post, have a few questions (of course). first its a 1987 Glasstream with a 2.3 omc cobra. i bought this boat in 08' and it ran great that summer worked perfect. last year i went to get it out for the summer and found out it needed a gimbal bearing, bellows, and just some general maintenance, i got a little pre-occupied with my jeep so i wound up not messing with it last year. anyhow i got the gimbal bearing in and the bellows except for the shift cable bellows i can't remember where it goes i thought that maybe it goes between the gimble and the transom but its too short.

second i tried to put the drive back on and the shaft slides up in there but the drive won't go any further than the mounting studs i know that its going into the splines because i can turn the motor by hand and the u-joints spin so what could be stopping it from going on up in there. it looks to me like its in perfect alignment. any help would be appreciated.

 

[MRS]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

I have a 86 cobra and changed my shift cable last year do not have manual in front of me but if I remember right there is no shift cable bellows that go on the lower unit. It would go inside the boat where the shift cable comes out of the tube it runs thru. You are useing a factory manual right?

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

except for the shift cable bellows i can't remember where it goes i thought that maybe it goes between the gimble and the transom but its too short.

Cobra drives don't have bellows for the shift cable, just the hose that attaches to the transom shield on the inside of the boat. Not sure what you have there that is too short.

second i tried to put the drive back on and the shaft slides up in there but the drive won't go any further than the mounting studs

Did you check the alignment? Did you put oil on the 2 orings on the splined shaft? They could be hanging up on the gimbal bearing.

 

[cr2k]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

Also some Cobras tend to hang on the U-joint coupler going thru the aft end of the bellows. Grease it up and maybe take a long screw driver and twist the U-joints back and forth.

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

i have this bellows http://www.iboats.com/Shift-Cable-Bellows-for-OMC-Sterndrive-Cobra-Johnson-Evinrude-911826-GLM-89210-Sierra/dm/*******.452395161--**********.429022453--view_id.172844 i ordered it from here when i got the rest of my parts. nope i don't have a manual i forgot to order one when i ordered my parts, it never even crossed my mind. it hanging up seems to be the problem i'll try putting a little grease on there i just figured it would slide right back up in there. how hard is it put that shift cable bellow in there. i can't even see it on the inside, do you have to take the transom plate off?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

Follow the lower shift cable from engine back and you'll find the shift bellows, as stated earlier the bellows is at the upper end of the cable sheath is accessable from engine compartment port side of engine.
When slipping the drive back in position the studs can hang you up too if it gets a little cockeyed.
The o-ring on the spline can also requires a little bump to slip in position, if not greased up well it can pinch out so pull the drive back off and inspect that too.

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

i greased it up this thing is a pain in the rear literally, i got it to go a little further. it still looks to be in perfect alingment

 

[MRS]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

Ok the bellows go's inside there will be a tube that the cable runs thru it should be on the starboard side. Lift your motor cover and take a look you will probably see the old one still on if you did not change the cable.

With the outdrive I did have to tilt mine down just a touch to get it on once it lines up slips right in all the way I did have it on a motor hoist also.

Look on the outdrive where it has OMC on it right above is your bellows. That is inside the boat. Good luck....

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

ok cool thanks. how much force should it take to get the shaft into the gimbal bearing, alot? i mean i'm pickin up on it and shoving it as hard as i can but no luck. i mean its right there, the exact length of studs, the studs actually go into the drive about 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch. at that point the splines should be engaged at least an inch right? when i spin the motor over by hand i can see it spinning the input shaft on the drive

 

[MRS]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

The bellows are real narrow and the ujoints do get hung there if you have help get someone to tilt the pivot housing down just a little when it lines up it will slip right in. Keep your fingers out of the way it will go in fast and easy you do have it neutral right?

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

Sometimes those Cobras can be a real bear to install even when everything is perfect.

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

yep its in neutral well i guess i'll clean up the extra grease and re-apply then try again

 

[sea wolf]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

Don't load up on the grease, too much will cause an air lock. If the studs are partway into the drive u may be able to draw it the rest of the way in with the nuts, but tighten them in evenly a little at a time on each stud.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

Starboard side daaa, thats what I meant, I got mixed up thinking about looking back at the motor.
Thats a very good point on the hydrolock if theres alot of exess grease in the coupler splines once that o-ring seals up it aint going anywhere.
Same theory as pushing out pilot bearing out using grease and a pin as your hydraulic ram. You didn't glob a bunch of grease in the coupler splines did you?
I've removed my Cobra many times and always slides right in like a hot knife through butter always, something is not right it should go in real easy, I'm having a hard time relating.

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

well i got the drive on and got it started, i rebuilt the carb friday, put points in today, drained all of the old gas out, put a new fuel filter on it, and got my trim workin. well she runs like a top no unusual noises all sounds good. i got just one other issue the drive doesn't engage until about 1/8 of the way into forward and its a little clunky when it does. neutral is about 1/8 of the way forward as well, last time i ran this boat i remember neutral being strait up and down and it going into gear as soon as you move the throttle forward. what could be causing this? the year i bought the boat the PO had a brand new control put on it i think its a teleflex control wouldn't they have had to put a new cable on it to make the aftermarket control work?

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

oh i cleaned some of the grease off of it and rubbed a little bit oil onto the orings and i got the drive on i had to use the bolts to get it on there about about the last 3/8 of an inch but shes on there

 

[xtreme99]

Re: OMC Cobra Out drive few questions

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