Lower Transom Cable Won’t Budge - Stuck in FWD

[Ranquet91]

Hello,

Took the boat out this past weekend and it shifted into forward and neutral without issue but when I put it in reverse it would go forward. Got it home and dry shifted (engine off) into reverse and now my lower transom cable will not budge and the boat is stuck in FWD.

I disconnected the cable and manually tried pushing it in while the engine was running to no avail.

Any ideas on how to get this freed up?

1989 Seaswirl 5.7l Cobra Stern

 

[Scott Danforth]

replace the cable.

since an over heat usually toasts the cable. have you checked the impeller?

 

[Lou C]

To the OP it is possible that the cable broke inside the pivot housing and that's why it stayed in FWD
this can happen if you don't pull the drive at the end of each season and clean out the area where the shifter bell crank lives inside the pivot housing. Water can leak in around the gasket and when it evaporates it leaves deposits that cause the bell crank to seize up which puts a lot of strain on the cable.
I would pull the drive and see what's happening at the bell crank end...
I have cleaned that area out, packed the recess where the bell crank lives with triple guard grease; then coat the gasket & sealing surfaces with OMC gasket sealer, and have not had a problem with the shifting on the Cobra for over 10 years. That's the last time I had to adjust it, and the cable believe it or not is over 20 years old. Contrary to all the bad Cobra stories!
And this is a 100% salt water boat probably the toughest use for an I/O of any kind.
The reason why the cable lasted so long is I keep the drive down with the boat in storage and that also makes the bellows last longer.
With a good cable and a cleaned out and lubed bell crank with the drive off that cable should move from the remote control end with very little effort. If it is sticky at all, you need a new one.