help omc cobra

[wikiedickie]

i have a 1991 302 omc cobra. the boat seemed to shift fine all year untill last weekend. i went to put the boat in gear and it didnt want to engage all the way untill i gave more throttle then the rpms went high and it jumped in gear. i took the boat out and started to mess with the transom shift cable. i have the manual and i followed all the instructions on adjustment and it still doesnt work right. i had someone rotate the propeller for me when i engaged foward and reverse. i can only adjust the cable for foward engagement. then it doesnt have reverse engagement, it is almost like i adjusted it to much one way. so i then adjust the other way and it is the exact oposite i get reverse but no foward. is the cable bad or what. i also messed withthe trunion on the cable so now i dont know the exact spot it is supposed to be in can some oned tell me. i have the omc manual and it doesnt say. also when you have someone spin the propeller for foward gear engagement it is supposed to lock in gear when you spin it clockwise? and when you put it in reverse you spin counterclockwise and it should lock right? one more question is i can start the boat up on the muffs and it will shift in gear fine but when it was in the water it didnt want to go in foward untill given more throttle then needed. how is that and how do i know if it is shiffting properly when i do adjustment out of the water?
thanks
sam

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: help omc cobra

The lower shift cable is bad...
What manual are you using...not a Seloc or Clymers i hope!
the drive MUST be pulled to adjust it correctly....
You need the factory manual...

 

[cr2k]

Re: help omc cobra

A quick way to set nominal neutral. Engine running (on muffs) shift cable off of the converter push cable in (rev.) just till it starts to hit on the dogs put a sharpie mark at end of plastic slide on metal . Pull cable out same just to touch dogs. Mark this.
Maesure 1/2 way and make mark. This is very close to neutral. With control in neutral adjust trunnion to fit with slide at center mark.
Also how hard is it to move the cable? Very Hard New Cable Time.
Disclaimer: This is not the end all adjustment, but will get you back close to neutral.

Where the cable from the control box mounts on the converter there is an adjustment for the amount of throw it put on the shift cable. Closer to pivot is more throw. Check this to see if it has slipped and you are not getting proper throw.

 

[danond]

Re: help omc cobra

Or, you could just follow what the manual says.

There is a perfect, no-fail way to blow up the gears and/or clutch on a Cobra: adjust the shift cable wrong, go for a spin.

Follow the factory manual. It is fool-proof, and works EVERY TIME.