91 OMC 4.3 Lower Shift Cable Won't Go in!

[duke3478]

Hi, pretty new to the forum, learning a lot and really appreciate the help.

I'm replacing the lower shift cable on my 91 Four Winns. Following the manual (the good one, not the aftermarket) and I can't get the new cable to go in through the hole in the transom.

I've tried going in from the bottom, out through the top, soapy water all over the plastic casing, grease, and silicone lube. The hose it runs through seems to have one hell of a bend near the bottom. The cable will thread about a foot, then hang up, and with a little more pressure, goes in another 6"-8" and hangs up again.

I've tried it with the inner cable installed, and with it out, with a plastic casing and without. Nothing makes a difference.

I've threaded a fishtape through and tried to pull it through from the bottom, and pull it up from the top. Nothing works. I spent about 6 hours just trying to make it work yesterday. I'm no stranger to unexpected problems, but this one is driving me nuts. Please help!

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: 91 OMC 4.3 Lower Shift Cable Won't Go in!

How was it getting the old cable out, be careful shoving objects like fish tapes up through the shift cable bellows or you may end up with another leak, there must be something forighn stuck in the bellows if you couldn't even get a fish tape to go through, I replaced my lower cable and had no problem at all sliding the new cable in place, All I'm saying is there's no trick or anything that I'm aware of and it should slide right in.

 

[o-jay]

Re: 91 OMC 4.3 Lower Shift Cable Won't Go in!

I had some trouble getting the cable through on mine too, but I can't remember exactly what I did. I think I straightened out the 'hose' on the inside some. I'm sure I went from inside out. Made all the difference in the world on shifting my boat though. Good luck.

 

[duke3478]

Re: 91 OMC 4.3 Lower Shift Cable Won't Go in!

thanks. It's not a bellows, the bellows is a little one and goes on after the cable is in. It's just a hose. I think I'll have to straighten it some, like 0-jay said, but it's almost impossible to reach.

The old cable was pretty hard to remove.

 

[cr2k]

Re: 91 OMC 4.3 Lower Shift Cable Won't Go in!

Here is the trick to this. Pay attention, only gonna say it once...

Pull the cable out. find a small plastic cap that just fits over the end of the housing that is going in thru the back. grease it up good and that should do the trick.

The blunt end of the housing catches on anything it can to fight you.

 

[duke3478]

Re: 91 OMC 4.3 Lower Shift Cable Won't Go in!

find a small plastic cap that just fits over the end of the housing that is going in thru the back. grease it up good and that should do the trick.

The blunt end of the housing catches on anything it can to fight you.

I don't disagree, but I forgot to mention I tried this. Used the cap from an old tube of blue gasket. It still hung up at the same bend.

I was successful, though. I fed a piece of flat line from the fishtape, which pulled thru 10' of 10ga cable (wire, really) which I bowlined to the end of the cable, just under the lip of the crimp. I followed that knot with another about six inches down, and a third done the same way.

I pushed while a buddy pulled, and once it got around the bend, it was butter. Two hours later, my drive is back on (with NO alignment tool) my bellowseses are new and squeaky, and everything inside is greasy. It's three in the a.m. but I'm ready for the water. I can move the throttle with my pinky.

...if someone can just send me a PM and remind me to put in the plug!

Thank you all for the help.