From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

[projo198]

1988 Bayliner Capri.

I want to measure my shift rod while I have the outdrive off. I know you measure to the very top of the shift rod head, but at the bottom the shift cover has a raised section right where the rod goes in. Do I measure from the lowest face of the shift plate, or from this raised section?

Thanks!

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Reads the bottom of the case, not the cover.

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/sb4052_4.jpg

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Ok cool. I converted to mm because I hate fractions and ended up being about 1.9mm short. I'm not thinking this is even worth cracking it open to adjust.

Any thoughts?

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Well I took a closer measurement and it is actually about half a mm short. The manual allows for a half turn of the rod head for reassembly, I'm pretty sure that would allow enough tolerance.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I would think there is a little room for error, but don't quote me on that. I wouldn't crack it open to adjust it, but that's me. (unless it was way off). Some one else may tell you different though.

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I may just do it for peace of mind; my biggest fear is that I break a gasket or something doing it then have to wait another week for the part to come in.

You can pull the lower gear housing off and put it back on without having to buy any new gaskets and seals right?

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I may just do it for peace of mind; my biggest fear is that I break a gasket or something doing it then have to wait another week for the part to come in.

You can pull the lower gear housing off and put it back on without having to buy any new gaskets and seals right?

Yes. There is no gasket between the upper and lower unit. Be sure to check your water tube seals though. The one on top looks like a rubber hat missing the inner part.

 

[ljsweeney]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I may just do it for peace of mind; my biggest fear is that I break a gasket or something doing it then have to wait another week for the part to come in.

You can pull the lower gear housing off and put it back on without having to buy any new gaskets and seals right?

Technically, yes - but in actual practice, no.

There are no case seals or gaskets between the upper and lower units on a Cobra (since it's an '88, I am making that assumption). You do, however, have to drop the OD from the boat to separate the upper and lower units. For that, you will need your standard OD gasket kit.

Boats-A-lots raises a good point as well. Since you're separating the upper and lower units, that is an excellent time to inspect both your water tube (for corrosion) and your water tube seals (for melting/age/brittleness). Bad water tube seals have caused their share of mystery overheat conditions.

Good luck.

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Technically, yes - but in actual practice, no.

There are no case seals or gaskets between the upper and lower units on a Cobra (since it's an '88, I am making that assumption). You do, however, have to drop the OD from the boat to separate the upper and lower units. For that, you will need your standard OD gasket kit.

Boats-A-lots raises a good point as well. Since you're separating the upper and lower units, that is an excellent time to inspect both your water tube (for corrosion) and your water tube seals (for melting/age/brittleness). Bad water tube seals have caused their share of mystery overheat conditions.

Good luck.

Gotcha, I already have the drive off because I am adjusting my bellcrank and replacing the bellows. I just figured out adjusting the shift rod won't get me any closer than I already am, so I'm leaving it uncracked. I am going to change the fluid while I wait on parts though, something I should have done when I bought the boat but didn't.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Yes. There is no gasket between the upper and lower unit. Be sure to check your water tube seals though. The one on top looks like a rubber hat missing the inner part.

Boatsalot, the rubber hat goes on the aluminum housing you were having a hard time removing.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Yeah, that water passage housing, that was a job and a half. I busted a couple of paint scrapers getting that up. The bearing housing was easy to get off. I made a not in my POS Clymer manual.. Outdrive comes off easy... Separating the lower from the upper is hard, taking off the water passage housing is harder. It's all back together just, but not on the boat. I have the boat sitting on jack stands waiting for my mail order carpet for the bunks. I don't want to be getting in and out of the boat when it on stands. (again Idlespeedonly, had it not been for your help, I would have been lost).

 

[bruceb58]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I am going to change the fluid while I wait on parts though, something I should have done when I bought the boat but didn't.

You know the correct way to fill the drive right? From the MIDDLE hole. Not from the bottom of the drive.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Bruce.. have a question about shifter rod height... You still on?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

It has been so long since I measured the thing that you need to do what the manual says. I don't recall. Been 10 years now since I had my Cobra.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I'm realllllllllllllllllllllly trying to understand how it could be off now. I know mine is off by 3/4 of an inch now or better. It reads from the bottom of the machined lower case. I measure from the bottom of the lip cover that's machined. CHIT... gotta take it apart now and fix it. But I counted 7 full turns to tight before I took it off.. when I put it back on I went fully tight, and back off 7 full turns. I SHOULD HAVE MEASURED the thing.. CHIT... DAMN!!!

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

I'm realllllllllllllllllllllly trying to understand how it could be off now. I know mine is off by 3/4 of an inch now or better. It reads from the bottom of the machined lower case. I measure from the bottom of the lip cover that's machined. CHIT... gotta take it apart now and fix it. But I counted 7 full turns to tight before I took it off.. when I put it back on I went fully tight, and back off 7 full turns. I SHOULD HAVE MEASURED the thing.. CHIT... DAMN!!!

Here's how I measured mine man, and I even made a sweet picture for ya.

Towards the face of the gear housing inside the opening and towards the left as you face it you can get strraight down to the bottom surface where you are supposed to measure from. I cut a wood dowel to size and put it there, holding it against the inside of the housing to keep it straight. Then I used a carpenters ruler held flat across the top of the shift rod head, ran this across the wooden down and marked it with a pen. Then I just removed the wood dowel and measured the distance.

I know it doesn't replace taking the damn thing apart and measureing it with the prescribed tool, but I think it is fairly accurate.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Here's how I measured mine man, and I even made a sweet picture for ya.

Towards the face of the gear housing inside the opening and towards the left as you face it you can get strraight down to the bottom surface where you are supposed to measure from. I cut a wood dowel to size and put it there, holding it against the inside of the housing to keep it straight. Then I used a carpenters ruler held flat across the top of the shift rod head, ran this across the wooden down and marked it with a pen. Then I just removed the wood dowel and measured the distance.

I know it doesn't replace taking the damn thing apart and measureing it with the prescribed tool, but I think it is fairly accurate.

You measured from the INSIDE, not on the lip right? From the lip just in front of your wood, if I measure mine it is balls on 7 13/64. This HAS to be a factory setting, as I have not adjusted the height of the rod at all. (and I know I'm the only one who has ever taken it apart. Could what the rod screws into have some out of adjustment, or ??? Before I bit the weenier and take it apart again, I just want to make sure. Thanks.

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Ya I measured from the inside, I actually placed the wooden dowel inside the opening and down to the surface of the lower gear case.

I'm not sure what "lip" your referring to.

I hope this helps!

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Well.. at the bottom, there is a bottom, then it indents in some more like the area around the front large anode. So I take it, do NOT measure from where it dips down there, just the flat surface of the case. If that is correct, then I"m balls on. Thank you.. :

 

[projo198]

Re: From which surface in the shift cover do I measure the shift rod?

Yep, your good. You just gotta look for the flat area the shift housing bolts to. There are lots of nooks and crannies down there.

I was wondering when you mentioned you might be 3/4 inch off, I don't think your bellcrank would even allow that lol.

Feel better?