help with king cobra

[kirkjenne]

Though I've been around boats some, I'm a first time owner. I bought a 89 Chapparal 2550SX with a King Cobra --- and humbled by the mechanical challenges. With a shifting problem now (from forward to neutral and reverse) I have been told to disengage the sensor behind the carb and reduce the rpm - then the problem will go away. Is this a good approach?<br /><br />thanks.

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: help with king cobra

RI, never had a cobra but look here and follow the links it may help you down the line:<br /> http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/ <br />good luck

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: help with king cobra

Sensor? Do you mean the ESA (Electric Shift Assist)? That suppose to "stall" the engine to make shifting easier.

 

[kirkjenne]

Re: help with king cobra

thanks blk and blu... I found that in a previous discussion and it was helpful.<br /><br />JustMrWill, Yes, the electric shift assembly - it is supposed to cut out a couple of spark plugs so it is easier to shift, but I was told I don't really need it and if it's malfunctioning it gives problems...<br /><br />Any help is better than none! Thanks

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: help with king cobra

ri-kjen...you do need the ESA to shift properly, in fact yours may not be working now and thats why you have problems shifting, if you disconnect a working module you will notice it becomes even harder to pull the gears apart. Read the info at stuarts site (link from Blk-n-Blu), you could have a badly adjusted shift cable or a binding one, faulty ESA/switch, idle RPM's too high but disconnecting the ESA is not going to fix a hard to shift problem.

 

[kirkjenne]

Re: help with king cobra

bb,<br />I changed the rpm (~500), and I understand the ESA is fairly new... looking at the shift cable - many thanks!<br /><br />kjen

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: help with king cobra

I noticed you have a 460, I have 2 of them in my boat, my idle is adjusted to 650 (in gear) and when I activate the ESA it drops down to about 400. Test your ESA to make sure it's working by running the engine in neutral and energize the interrupt switch (the switch with the metal arm sitting in the v-shape notch) if the engine doesn't stumble (drop RPM's) then you have an ESA problem and there is lots of help on this board for that.

 

[kirkjenne]

Re: help with king cobra

BB,<br />thanks, I will try that... I heard from someone that hangs around the docks to try the same thing.<br /><br />Have you tried to get OMC manifolds?... I couldn't get any when I had a problem in June -had to buy another engine in decent shape to cannabalize them. Now I have parts forever, but will probably have to purchase new manifolds.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: help with king cobra

No I haven't needed manifolds yet but I boat in freshwater and the season is pretty short (especially this year)

 

[Airpacker]

Re: help with king cobra

A word of warning. The 460 will break that drive often if you push it hard, do WOT hole shots or miss throttle it in rough water. I was the unfortunate owner of one of the first 460 King Cobra packages in Canada and it was a major lemon. I blew 13 drives in 2 seasons. Let me rephrase that. I blew 11, OMC engineers blew 2 for me. They had my brand new boat at the old OMC plant in Peterborough more weekends than I had it at the lake. The lower unit gear set was designed for a 235hp outboard and as such, cannot stand the touque of a 460 turning one high pitched prop. Be careful.

 

[kirkjenne]

Re: help with king cobra

AP,<br />Thanks for the warning... everything but the shift cable and interrupter switch seem to be working well. I love the performance but not the gas bills!<br /><br />kjen