81 omc sterndrive

[Towman6364]

It's been awhile since I have posted I had to step away from this project for awhile but now I would like to get it done ,so my problem was the boat runs great on land and in reverse but when I power up it dies,so I was told I had the cables backward and I couldn't find any cables but after studying manual I found them inside the control box, so my question is do I have to take the whole sterndrive out or can I just switch in the box?

 

[Bondo]

It's been awhile since I have posted I had to step away from this project for awhile but now I would like to get it done ,so my problem was the boat runs great on land and in reverse but when I power up it dies,so I was told I had the cables backward and I couldn't find any cables but after studying manual I found them inside the control box, so my question is do I have to take the whole sterndrive out or can I just switch in the box?

Ayuh,....... Welcome back,...... How are they backwards,..??

Is the throttle cable on the shifter, 'n the shifter cable on the throttle,..??
Or,....
Is the shifter cable, or the throttle cable moving the wrong way,..??

 

[Scott Danforth]

are you talking the cables back by the ESA? or where the cable enters the control binnacle?

what do you mean the cables are backwards?

also, most likely your ESA is out of adjustment.

go here. http://sterndrive.info/ and watch the videos on setting up the ESA

 

[Towman6364]

Ayuh,....... Welcome back,...... How are they backwards,..??

Is the throttle cable on the shifter, 'n the shifter cable on the throttle,..??
Or,....
Is the shifter cable, or the throttle cable moving the wrong way,..??

It's the cables that are in the control box in the back of the motor, they go from that box into the sterndrive, when I try to go forward it goes in reverse and vice versa I am just wanting to know if they can be switched up top or do I have to take the sterndrive apart

 

[Towman6364]

It's the cables that are in the control box in the back of the motor, they go from that box into the sterndrive, when I try to go forward it goes in reverse and vice versa I am just wanting to know if they can be switched up top or do I have to take the sterndrive W

It's the cables that are in the control box in the back of the motor, they go from that box into the sterndrive, when I try to go forward it goes in reverse and vice versa I am just wanting to know if they can be switched up top or do I have to take the sterndrive apart

Shifter is moving wrong way, so when I am trying to go forward shifter is in reverse and cuts out when I throttle up and when in reverse shifter is forward and it wants to go full speed

 

[Towman6364]

are you talking the cables back by the ESA? or where the cable enters the control binnacle?

what do you mean the cables are backwards?

also, most likely your ESA is out of adjustment.

go here. http://sterndrive.info/ and watch the videos on setting up the ESA

Thank you for advice I tried adjusting Esa no change I tried taking shift cable off at control box and running it by hand but still when in forward boat is moving in reverse and vice versa my question is if I put a left hand propeller would that solve my problem

 

[Bondo]

Thank you for advice I tried adjusting Esa no change I tried taking shift cable off at control box and running it by hand but still when in forward boat is moving in reverse and vice versa my question is if I put a left hand propeller would that solve my problem

Ayuh,.... What's the back-story on this project boat of yer's,..??
Has it ever worked right since you've had it,..??

I don't believe that ole Stringer drive will hold up to running in reverse for very long,....
Maybe Southkogs can shed some light on this,....

 

[racerone]

Selecting reverse to go forward is NOT a good idea.

 

[southkogs]

Are you sure the cable is installed correctly in the remote (throttle)? Do you have a picture of the drive and the remote?

If I've read your previous posts correctly, you've never had this boat in the water. Is that right?

 

[Towman6364]

Ayuh,.... What's the back-story on this project boat of yer's,..??
Has it ever worked right since you've had it,..??

I don't believe that ole Stringer drive will hold up to running in reverse for very long,....
Maybe Southkogs can shed some light on this,....

I bought this boat from a co worker that no longer works with me about two years ago,I have seen it run before I purchased it,but no it has never run right for me,I didn't pay another for it but I don't want to dump a bunch of money if I can't fix it,,but it is a decent looking boat

 

[Towman6364]

Are you sure the cable is installed correctly in the remote (throttle)? Do you have a picture of the drive and the remote?

If I've read your previous posts correctly, you've never had this boat in the water. Is that right?

I will get some pictures tomorrow the boat is stored where I work, and I have had the boat in the water a dozen times most recently last Saturday, I had a friend running the controls while I was at the control box I have a book and I thought by cycling the control I might get lucky but when I put in forward gear once again I was going backwards

 

[southkogs]

No matter what - nice lookin' boat - get it working right - cheap - etc - the OMC Stringer drive has been obsolete for a long time. They're kind of a cool drive, but definitely should be thought of as an antique. They like attention in the garage, and they can be finicky.

I actually liked mine a lot. And they can run just fine for quite some time. But just realize that they are a bit of a mechanical dinosaur.

 

[Towman6364]

Here are some pictures

 

[Towman6364]

I'm sorry I take terrible pictures

 

[southkogs]

Have you gotten a good look at the shift cable? I can see the remote was disconnected at one point in your photo.

Take a look at THIS THREAD and see if that sparks any ideas.

I had an electric shift which was different than what you have. I'm looking to see if I still have one of my old manuals.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Move the shift cable to the other link on the controls

 

[Towman6364]

Have you gotten a good look at the shift cable? I can see the remote was disconnected at one point in your photo.

Take a look at THIS THREAD and see if that sparks any ideas.

I had an electric shift which was different than what you have. I'm looking to see if I still have one of my old manuals.

I tore down the out drive with the help of my Seloc manual and did not find anything out of the ordinary but when I got to the shift cover on the lower unit I didn't take it apart because it called for three special tools only identified with numbers so is there a possibility that those cables are on the wrong pulleys and does anyone know where to get those special tools or what I can substitute for them? I put everything back together so that I didn't lose anything just as the book says and it is still doing the same thing, and I thought maybe it was in the wrong gear when I put that cable cover back on but I did it how the book said to and the cables on the wrong pulley or being in the wrong gear is all I can come up with, any thoughts?

 

[kenny nunez]

Early OMC 400&800s had hydraulic shift with an oil pump in the lower gear housing. Then they went to non hydraulic. The shift converter‘s for the drives operate opposite if my memory is correct.
If your drive has the hydraulic system, disconnect the shift cable from the throttle control on the converter box. Start the engine and manually move the lever, you will feel the lever pulling itself into forward gear. If there is no assist felt then you have a later drive that used opposite movement.
if this is the case then you will have to aquire a generic marine control box that features shift action in either direction.
Mrapac # 7-0119 from a Donovan Marine dealer or on line. The part # would be FO-0787100. Universal side mount which will use your original control cables and have a neutral safety switch. If you find a used one on line it may not have the extra parts to use your present cables.
Your propeller should be pitched to rotate counter clockwise for forward movement.
This is the best I can come up with.