OMC cobra outdrive drops out of gear

[Wolfman23]

I have a 1987 Rinker with a v6 OMC engine, cobra outdrive. Had boat up on plane, after a couple minutes it drops out of gear, engine revs up, feels like a spun hub issue, but prop is new. Was told it could be shift cable or "dog bone" any idea if it cable and how to adjust?

 

[itsathepete]

It it was a spun prop you likely wouldn't ne able to get up on plane at all. With load on the gears it shouldn't come out of gear but it might be your dog clutch is rounded off or barely engaged. With the engine off and engine cover removed, put it into gear watching the shift cables on starboard side of engine. Once the throttle on the carb starts to open see if you can move the shift assembly any farther. If it moves more, you need to adjust shifting and throttle cables to oem spec. If the cables are stretched they need to be replaced. If it doesn't move any farther, your dog clutch may be toast

 

[Wolfman23]

It it was a spun prop you likely wouldn't ne able to get up on plane at all. With load on the gears it shouldn't come out of gear but it might be your dog clutch is rounded off or barely engaged. With the engine off and engine cover removed, put it into gear watching the shift cables on starboard side of engine. Once the throttle on the carb starts to open see if you can move the shift assembly any farther. If it moves more, you need to adjust shifting and throttle cables to oem spec. If the cables are stretched they need to be replaced. If it doesn't move any farther, your dog clutch may be toast

Thanks, I will look at it this weekend.

 

[Lou C]

Do a search on my user name I’ve posted how to set up the shift system on the Cobra a few times.
When set up right they will not clunk into gear & will shift out of gear with 2 finger pressure….

 

[kenny nunez]

It could also be the drive coupler behind the engine. If you get a burning rubber smell then that is what has happened.

 

[Lou C]

That, elevated engine temp due to the impeller not spinning fast enough

 

[Wolfman23]

It could also be the drive coupler behind the engine. If you get a burning rubber smell then that is what has happened.

Thanks, no, no rubbere smell

 

[Lou C]

With these not staying in gear can be a sticky/corroded transom shift cable and/or a crudded up bell crank in the pivot housing. Either way you’re pulling the drive & checking:
Shift rod height
Cable drag
Cable adjustment

 

[Lou C]

And hopefully your clutch dogs are not rounded off because then even if everything else is right, you may have to replace at least the FWD gear and clutch dog depending on condition. With these or any other dog clutch shifted gearbox you want to shift it fast, so no grinding and for it to go FULLY into gear each time so it doesn't slip under engine torque. People who neglect the shift system (cable condition & adjustment) and/or never learn how to shift a dog clutch properly are the ones who wind up having these issues. It's not like a synchromesh gearbox where it shifts better if you ease into gear, just the opposite.