Any help would be appreciated....

[mcsphog]

I own a 1990 Seaswirl Sable Cuddy with a Ford 351 V-8, 5.8L Cobra engine. I recently tuned the engine, and rebuilt the Holley 4Bbl carburator. Boat idles great and when on the water, cruises at 4500 rpm at 43 MPH. The problem I am having is that idle is fine, reverse in gear at low speed is fine, but while in gear in the forward gear at low speed the engine wants to die and shakes badly until you give it a little more throttle and then kicks in. I cannot figure it out and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

You probably have either a stiff or out of adjustment lower shift cable. Sounds like it's holding the shift interrupt switch engaged till you add some throttle.
At low rpm the ESA module cuts out fire to have the cylinders to allow the drive to shift out of gear.

 

[skeat]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

An easy check for that is too observe the actuator arm on the engine shift assembly when this is happening. The arm should be centered in the v groove when either in forward or reverse. It is only on the high side then you are going through the shift motion. A stiff or out of adjustment cable can definitely cause this. Pick yourself up a OMC manual and do a google search for Stuart Hastings Cobra. This will guide you through the process. I originally had a Seloc manual but it didn't mention anything about this. (I was told it was inadvertantly left out??) Good Luck

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

You need a new lower shift cable (RED) the old black one`s had problems.

 

[mcsphog]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

Ok, I will give a check. I have a current Clymers manual, so hopefully it is in there. Thanks much........

 

[Don S]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

You need a new lower shift cable (RED) the old black one`s had problems.

Yea, but that was 20 years ago and they, along with the gears were all replaced under warranty. Doubt anyone has seen a black one in the last 10 years and I know they didn't sell any black ones since 87.


mcsphog, don't expect the Clymers to have anything either. If you want to fix it properly, get the oem manual

 

[mcsphog]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

Well, you are right. The manual does not talk about adjusting or replacing the shift cables.... :-(

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

One of the OMC guys needs to post the 'Hastings' thread.....
Or you could search the archives in the mean time.....​

 

[skeat]

Re: Any help would be appreciated....

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/ I mentioned it above. Great information should be std equipment with all Cobras