Cobra lower shift cable

[Baylinercapri87]

Hello, I am going to be changing my lower shift cable on my 87 cobra outdrive. I know you have to take the drive off to change it. I am woundering how the cable comes off when the drive is taken off. It looks like the cable goes straight into the drive. Thanks

 

[marunr]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

The cable is screwed in to the pivot housing, which also must be removed. You'll need to get a manual.

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

I have a manual but it has nothing on replacing the cable. Thanks for the info.

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

Oops, wrong thread...... Sorry

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

Will I see the linkage connector and nut after I take off the stern drive?

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

Sorry about that, I was posting information about replacing a Volvo cable for gregtay on another post. I just posted to your thread by accident.
It's been so long since I did a Cobra cable I wouldn't even want to try and explain how it's done.

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

The book said for removing the pivot housing the first step is to remove the cable after the stern drive is removed. I think that means I can remove the cable without removing the pivot housing. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[tonyvail]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

I replaced this cable this summer. I could not get the cable to turn to remove it as the cable was tight in the tube. I cut the cable and then unscrew the threaded end. The rest of the cable was easy to pull out once cut. I wasted a bit of time before deciding to cut.[ If you can pull the enterire cable out the tube near the drive, then you could turn the entire cable to unscrew it from the fitting.

quote time=1156726920 user=Baylinercapri87 uid=84609 fid=24 tid= rid=0]Hello, I am going to be changing my lower shift cable on my 87 cobra outdrive. I know you have to take the drive off to change it. I am woundering how the cable comes off when the drive is taken off. It looks like the cable goes straight into the drive. Thanks[/quote]

 

[marunr]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

The book said for removing the pivot housing the first step is to remove the cable after the stern drive is removed. I think that means I can remove the cable without removing the pivot housing. Let me know what you guys think.

That is wrong. You have to remove the pivot housing first, and most of us have had to actually unscrew the pivot housing (by rotating it over and over) from the cable rather than the cable from the housing. This is because the cable doesn't want to rotate inside the engine compartment.

I guess you could do it like tonyvail did, but I don't see how you can get the new one in that way. You certainly won't be able to torque it down.

What kind of manual do you have? Have you seen this site about adjusting your new cable?
http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

(copy and paste the link)

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

I got the cable out with out taking out the piviot housing, It was hard but I got it done, next is to put the new one in.

 

[marunr]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

I got the cable out with out taking out the piviot housing, It was hard but I got it done, next is to put the new one in.

Glad you got it, but taking off the pivot housing isn't hard...certainly easier than what you're going to go through getting the new cable tightened down to prevent water from coming in (as much as that is possible).

Did you look at the other site? The proper adjustment is critical and has to be done by the book. The site I posted has OMC's adjustment procedure. I assume you don't have the OEM manuals.

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

I got the new cable in, I had to take out the pivot housing (easy). The adjustments look very confusing to me. Is there a easyer way to adjust the cable?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

Do you have a manual?

The angle of the bell crank is important. It needs to be 90 degrees. You either have to use a square to set it or borrow the plate from a dealer. I have always used the plate on mine. The plate is a jig you bolt onto the drive bolts that holds the bell crank in the proper position.

They have them on ebay if you want to buy one.

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

Yes, I have a Seloc OMC manual, I cant really find anything on adjusting the cable. What is the bell crank?

 

[Baylinercapri87]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

And I dont see any plate on ebay. Can you link me?

 

[marunr]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

Here's the deal. If you will go to the Hastings site I linked above, and print out all of the pages INCLUDING all of the pages he has linked, you will see the bellcrank and everything you need to do. Study it and allow yourself time to look your outdrive over while reading the instructions and it isn't too difficult. This is the only way to properly adjust the cables...even the pros on here will refer to this site a lot of times.

As far as an easier way, you could just wing it. But be advised...the pages of this site are littered with posts from people who have lost the gears in their Cobra's, and they are very $$$ to replace. I'm no mechanic, but I got through it so I'm sure you can too.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Cobra lower shift cable

I couldn't find a current auction but here is an old one. Maybe he has more:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OMC-...tegoryZ50442QQihZ010QQitemZ200019984648QQrdZ1

While you are at it, buy an engine alignment bar too.