88 reinell 4.3l cobra Apparently normal Shift problems. ADVISE . . .

rideordice

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Joined
Jun 4, 2009
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So i just bought a 88 Reinell 17' open bow with a 4.3 and cobra i/o. Took it out today for the first time and low and behold i have shift problems that i have been happily reading about all over this site. Here's what it does, put it in the water, start it and go. Goes into forward just fine throttle back to what i think would be neutral and it wont go into neutral just stays idleing in forward and the lever will not go backward it gets hard to move. If i rank on it i can get it to pop right over neutral into reverse, seldom does it go to neutral. shut the engine off and shift it, it seems to make it easier to get to neutral. It has the red shift cable in it right now, and if i play with the esa it works. Is the shift cable just out of allignment. Any tips adivise links to advise would be great. Do i need the special tools that are talked about or can i do with out them. Thank you!!!!
 

rideordice

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Jun 4, 2009
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Re: 88 reinell 4.3l cobra Apparently normal Shift problems. ADVISE . . .

Thanks for that link for that manual. I kept reading around on here and found the idle specs, mine was idleing around 800 cause a screw on the carb that stops the throttle from returning all the way was turned a few turns once i turned it back the idle dropped down to around 450-500 and now it seems to shift just fine. Ive never owned a boat before so i dont know what kind of resistance there is supposed to be in the throttle assembly but it seems to work good now.
 

danond

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
1,118
Re: 88 reinell 4.3l cobra Apparently normal Shift problems. ADVISE . . .

It should shift very easily. A 4 year old should be able to shift your Cobra. If there's any extensive effort required, it's not adjusted properly or you have a bad cable.

Adjust it by the book. Don't guess, or you'll be wrong and will likely blow up your drive!
 
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