OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

M

MT boater

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
14
I usaully find the information I need searching but maybe I could get some personal opinions here. I have an 1983 Sea Sprite boat with a 152 G.M. engine and an OMC outdrive. I took my ball gears out to change them and in the process I forgot to unbolt the shift cable from the intermediate housing and ripped some rubber coating. The shift cable is not "broke" but is it? If pics didn't show up they can be seen at http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e275/4x4in/?sc=1&multi=2&addtype=local&media=image <br /><br />My questions are:<br />Are the shift cables inside of the black rubber housing coated for a reason? <br /><br />Is there a repair to fix the covering on the shift cable or am I up OMC creek without a shift cable?<br /><br />If shift cable is bad, how is it to replace? <br /><br />I have an old Seloc manual and I will be reading up on the issue tonight to learn something.<br /><br />Thanks for any and all help.<br /><br />One more off topic question. I noticed on my intermediate drive there is a spot for another exhaust manifold to enter. Is this normal?<br /><br />
4x4in
<br /><br />
4x4in
 
Bt Doctur

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,343
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

cables shot, you need a new one.
 
KaGee

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Yep, you're up "shift" creek! Sorry!<br /><br />You have to split the drive to access the shift cable. Not too bad depending upon your abilities.<br /><br />Ball gears need to be replaced... looks like you been running with the drive tilted up. :eek: <br /><br />Make sure you use some Loctite 609 installing those gears. Hope you did not destroy the shims taking the gears out. If you did, then you need to get a micrometer to measure the thickness and replace with the same. Get reseal kits while you have everything apart.<br /><br />Try and find a factory manual... wish I had one when I did the gears... much better than SELOC.
 
E

emsisson

Cadet
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
16
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Just finished replacing the shift cable on my '78 800 OMC. Going in it seemed difficult and somewhat confusing, afterwards it wasn't that difficult. One of my biggest concerns were the "special tools" listed in the Seloc manual. Turns out that the only "special tool" I needed was a nut partially threaded on the end of a 1/4 x 20 bolt to thread onto the end of the pinion shaft to remove it. The rest was just taking the time to study how the cables were routed in the shift assembly around the pulleys. Be careful about matching your new shift cable with the old one. <br />Make sure the puck ends are the correct size and orientation, there are different styles. You'll also need a new seal kit for the lower unit. Since it comes with the seals for the swivel housing, I did that also. Wasn't difficult, same basic procedure as replacing the seals and races in an axle. Also be careful about the positioning of the fwd and reverse cables when placing the shift housing back on the lower unit. I would practice a few times without any gasket or sealant to get the procedure down pat. I mis-read the info and used the distance for a shift assist unit instead of my unit. Got the whole thing bolted back together only to find out it wasn't correct and had to tear it down again. I'm getting real good at removing the outdrive.
 
M

MT boater

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
14
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Thanks for the great info. The ball gears were not quite that bad when we bought the boat but they were bad. I have now learned the punishment for running in a tilt position. <br /><br />Looks like I get to do a lot of learning about outdrive assembly. Since I am in there anyway, is there any recomendations of things to look for or replace while I have it apart?<br /><br />Boat shop here in town said ballpark price for a shift cable was about $500. Does that sound right?<br /><br />The only justification I can give myself for doing this to me is that last year the boat quit goin into reverse so maybe I had a cable problem anyway.<br /><br />Again, thanks for the great info.
 
E

emsisson

Cadet
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
16
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

I paid $350 for a new cable from an OMC dealer, I've seen cheaper prices on the web, but I would be careful due to the possibility of getting an incorrect cable. <br /><br />If your unit is anything like mine, you will remove the upper gearcase, the exhaust housing, perhaps the swivel housing, and the shift assembly. At that point the only thing left is the lower gearcase with the propshaft. Since you mentioned losing your reverse gear, it could be cable related but, it could also be a bad clutch facing on that gear. Here's where the fun starts...<br /><br />With the outdrive torn down to this point, you might consider having a shop tear into the gears and clutch assembly to find out the condition of things. My shift cable had been giving me problems for quite a while. Turns out the problems in shifting caused the dog clutch and associated gear facings to round over, which meant I couldn't keep it in gear, under a load. New clutch, gears and bearing, $1100. Hope that is not your situation. <br /><br />Also at this point, since you will have removed the upper gearcase, the waterpump impeller assembly is located in the bottom of the upper gearcase. If you don't know when it was replaced, it might be the time to remove, inspect and replace, depending on what you find. As you replace items, be sure to fully lube the shaft splines coming from the lower gearcase and the one which fits between the waterpump and upper gearcase.<br /><br />P.S. If you have a Black & Decker Workmate it does a great job of holding the outdrive in position while you work on it. I sit the cavitation plate on the top of the Workmate with the "bullet" below and tighten the top so it stays put.
 
G

greentahoe

Seaman
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Messages
55
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

About 7 yrs. ago I replaced my 800 series shift cable and gave the OMC dealer about $245 for it. Today, while removing my outdrive, I pulled on the cable with the outdrive disconnected from the intermediate housing and the rubber covering on the outside of the cable ripped. It separated for a distance of about 4". It took 1 1/2 hr. to get the remaining cable with rubber back through the housing, but I did it without further damage to the cable. I coated the bare steel cables, now without rubber covering, with a healthy coating of Goop. That stuff works wonders for lots of things, such as plugging leaks in the transom seal. It'll be a few days before it goes back together and by then the Goop will be well stuck to the cables. It should last quite a while. Let's see; new cable, replaced because rubber is missing in small section, $500. Tube of Goop, which sticks to anything, less than $5.00. Hmmm. Think I'll give the Goop a try.<br />Good luck!
 
KaGee

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

It's why I always suggest a second pair of hands when removing a cable that's been in a while. One pushing, one pulling.
 
M

MT boater

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
14
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Hmmm. GOOP? What do I have to lose? I am already fixin to replace parts anyways. I better just not plan the experimental trip after it is back together with the wife along expecting a nice day on the water.<br /><br />There is still that reverse issue though.
 
M

MT boater

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
14
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Anybody got a junked out boat with a decent outdrive they want like $100 for?
 
W

whywhyzed

Banned
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,871
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Originally posted by MT boater:<br /> Hmmm. GOOP? What do I have to lose?
Click to expand...
dunno... Your life? Your boat?..... <br /><br />I don't think the goop recommendation was for your cable - not sure if that poster looked at your pics.<br /><br />I recommend eBay or the classifieds section at the top of this page.
 
G

greentahoe

Seaman
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Messages
55
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Hystat, you are correct. I didn't notice the pics on the cable, which is obviously shot. In my case, only the rubber is torn, the protective outer cable is fine so I'm comfortable with coating it with Goop to keep the water out. Another possibility for finding a cable might be Sierra.com. They make lots of replacement parts, but I don't know if they have that particular cable.
 
M

MT boater

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
14
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

I tried the sierra.com and the page I get is for video games. http://www.sierra.com/ <br /><br />I'll just start looking for a cable.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />I found sierra in the marine store part of the website. No luck with the cable there though.
 
E

emsisson

Cadet
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
16
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

I saw a cable listed on www.boatparts.ca but after they lost last night in the Stanley Cup, I'm not sure if the Canadians are still talking to us...
 
W

whywhyzed

Banned
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,871
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

boatparts.ca says sold out. don't think sierra ever had those cables.<br />one on eBay...<br /><br />hockey? yawn.... that's for people who don't boat...
 
D

DHPMARINE

Captain
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
3,688
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

I came up with 982563 for the cable at $330.But none of the BRP warehouses stock it.Probably soon to be NLA.<br /><br />DHP
 
M

MT boater

Cadet
Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
14
Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

Re: OMC Ball Gears out & broke? shift cable

I found a guy on ebay parting out a 400 outdrive, sent him an e-mail asking if he had the shift cable and he did. When I asked how much he wanted for it, he said $25 including shipping. SOLD!!!

I was going to take my lower unit to the boat shop to get the skeg repaired so maybe I will have them inspect it for signs of reverse damage.

The lower unit seal kit is next to purchase I guess. The shaft coming from the lower unit into the upper is completely dry with a coating of rust dust on it. Shouldn't that have some grease?

Being the shims were still in good shape from the ball gear shafts, would it be O.K. to reuse them or is a shim kit just cheap insurance?

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top