OMC stringer lower shift cable won't pull through intermediate housing...

[Bodhi]

My first (and if it keeps up, last) boat but not first mechanical experience:<br />'83 3.8L with I believe an OMC 800 stringer outdrive. Transom seal has hole I can put my hand through, because the stringers have rotted out or been otherwise damaged and the intermediate housing has been sitting all the way at the bottom the hole. This must have pinched the rubber...<br /><br />In beginning the refab, I began taking the outdrive off. I can't get the shifter cable to pull through the hole. I've taken it out of the converter housing. I took the retainer clip off. There is just a lot of resistance. I think it is actually torn inside there anyway, because I can see wire cable. So I think it is just bunched all up in there. Which might explain the stickiness of shifting I experienced the two times I took it out before I learned it isn't normal to have to pump out so much water...<br /><br />Is there anything inboard to remove? I didn't really feel anything in there.

 

[kponhlo]

Re: OMC stringer lower shift cable won't pull through intermediate housing...

Bodhi,<br /><br />I'm in the same boat so to speak...first powerboat but numerous mechanical experiences beforehand (and not all of them were good).<br /><br />I took of my 400 drive and, while it was tight to pull the cable out (its supposed to be watertight after all) it did come out. There IS a bolted in clip between the transom and the outdrive - outside the boat - and the Clymer manual lists its removal as step 1 in the process. You have to trip the drive up to get it.<br /><br />If you're sure the cable is junk, the easiest way might be to cut it on the outside then pull the inner part back inside the boat. They're super expensive though, so don't cut it unless you know for sure.<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />-Keith

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC stringer lower shift cable won't pull through intermediate housing...

The cable is flat but there is a round sleeve on the cable where it goes thru the intermediate housing. If you have a lot of corrosion in the hole it will be pretty tough to pull out. The best way is to have someone hold the outdrive as far out as possible, grab hold of the cable and pull it straight out of the hole. Don't use the outdrive to pull on it. It can take quite a bit of force before you damage the cable. If it's already damaged, cut it and drive it back thru with an appropriate sized drift punch.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: OMC stringer lower shift cable won't pull through intermediate housing...

Sorry,but if you can see the bare metal wires in the cable you need a new one.Order or obtain one QUICK.these parts are becoming No Longer Available quickly.<br />DHP

 

[Bodhi]

Re: OMC stringer lower shift cable won't pull through intermediate housing...

I got it out finally. I could feel where it went into the outdrive, and there was rubbery stuff there, like maybe it wasn't sealed right and someone just RTV'd it. But I went in with a pair of needle-nose's and it was a chunk of the cable skin. Yeah, I priced 'em. Well not the exact one, because I can't find that one. To make sure I can still sleep at night I tell myself there is no way I could have torn it...<br /><br />The number on it is 982802, but I can't seem to find that anywhere. The outdrive model # is 983159. Is there anything that interchanges?<br /><br />But that trial pales in comparison to later that night/early that morning when the spark arrestor nut fell down into the carb and then in trying to keep the linkage STILL I moved it. Down into the runner it goes, out of sight...<br /><br />At least I heard it and noticed the only thing missing.