OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

[KyHeadhunter1]

My brother and I are on vacation in Tennessee this week doing some dishing with our kids. We backed the boats into the lake this past Saturday afternoon and all was well. My brother started his boat up and backed it off the trailer with no issue at all. We then drove our boats 2 miles up the lake and as he was approaching the dock at our cabin he tried to pull back to neutral, and then into reverse to keep from bumping the dock hard and the shifter wouldn't shift into reverse. It worked fine five minutes earlier. I disconnected the lower shift cable from the mechanism on the intake manifold and then the shifter moved forward and reverse smooth as silk. When I hooked the lower cable back up and he applied a little pressure to the shifter to go into reverse, (with the engine off) I turned the prop by hand, and the prop tries to lock into the clutch dog but the shifter still won't go all the way into reverse. This is a 1989 5.7 liter GM engine with a Cobra outdrive. Does anyone have any ideas as to what is going on??? Any and all comments will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks, Jim

 

[PaJon]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

The lower shift cable sounds like it's binding. The only way I know of to test it is to pull the drive off. If it is binding, running it that way WILL cause the gears to fail. If it were my boat, I would tow it back to the dock, load it up and pull the drive. The last gear sets I've seen were about $1000, so I wouldn't risk running it at all that way. If the boat is still in the water, you might want to test the esa to make sure it's working as well.

 

[KyHeadhunter1]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

I am positive its not the ESA because when you try to shift it into reverse, it stops right on top of the ESA and the motor will continue to stutter till you shift it back to neutral. It won't shift past the point of the ESA engaging.

My boat has a Merc/Alpha one and I don't know much about them.....and I know even less about the Cobras...

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

I am positive its not the ESA because when you try to shift it into reverse, it stops right on top of the ESA and the motor will continue to stutter till you shift it back to neutral. It won't shift past the point of the ESA engaging.

My boat has a Merc/Alpha one and I don't know much about them.....and I know even less about the Cobras...

Ayuh,... Ya need a new lower shift cable,... That 1 is draggin'....

 

[KyHeadhunter1]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

Ayuh,... Ya need a new lower shift cable,... That 1 is draggin'....

Okay. Thanks for your reply!!

 

[KyHeadhunter1]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

Anyone know how long of a job it is to replace it? It seems this is one of those jobs where the labor will be more than the parts.

 

[RootFantastic]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

Anyone know how long of a job it is to replace it? It seems this is one of those jobs where the labor will be more than the parts.

im in the process of doing the same thing with my 4.3 cobra.

i got VERY lucky. The pin/ rod that goes through the two trim rams can be an absolute ***** to get out, but last time i had it off, i greased it, and it came right out.

Take out the rod, then the 6 bolts that mount the drive to bellhousing. wiggle, pry, and swear alot, and it will come off.


Took me 25 minutes.

Make sure you get the gasket kit to go back together.

 

[KyHeadhunter1]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

im in the process of doing the same thing with my 4.3 cobra.

i got VERY lucky. The pin/ rod that goes through the two trim rams can be an absolute ***** to get out, but last time i had it off, i greased it, and it came right out.

Take out the rod, then the 6 bolts that mount the drive to bellhousing. wiggle, pry, and swear alot, and it will come off.


Took me 25 minutes.

Make sure you get the gasket kit to go back together.

Thank you!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

Taking the drive off is actually the easy part.

 

[KyHeadhunter1]

Re: OMC Cobra won't physically shift into reverse, any ideas???

Taking the drive off is actually the easy part.

Yeah, that's what I gather from reading about it. When I read that if the cable isn't adjusted properly it will cause the gears to fail, I knew I wouldn't try it. Especially since it isn't my boat. My brother is currently looking for someone to replace the cable. Our local marine dealer wants $800.00!!