OMC 4.3 Stalls in reverse.

[xecutech]

I have a 91 Sunbird Corsair 198 20' with an OMC 4.3 I/O. I bought the boat used 2 weeks ago, don't have a manual and/or know it's history.<br />The boat is very clean and starts and runs great.<br /><br />Today, I was docking and when I put it in reverse the boat jerked a little and the engine died. I tried to restart and there was nothing when I turned the key, like the battery was completly dead.<br />3 days ago I had to jump it off to start it. Since then it has been starting fine. I have been concerned with the throttle response, as it is hard to throw the boat in reverse to slow down when docking.<br /><br />I have read several threads here about this and heard that throttle cable replacement fixs this?!<br />Is there anything electrical/battery related that could cause this?<br /><br />I am wonderng if it's electrical because it was dead after stalling out. I was messing with the battery cables and etc. then noticed the gauges working again, turned the key and started right up and ran it for an hour. Then I put it up for the day.<br /><br />Please help/advise...

 

[dka1ser]

Re: OMC 4.3 Stalls in reverse.

Sounds to me like just loose cables. <br /><br />The sudden jerking back into reverse might have caused a cable to loosen temporarily. <br /><br />I'd remove, clean, and retighten all the battery cables, starter cables, coil wires, and ground straps (if any). <br /><br />Maybe the shift interrupter wires too? If you jiggled around the wires and everything worked again, I think you diagnosed your own problem.

 

[QC]

Re: OMC 4.3 Stalls in reverse.

Take a look at the I/O shift cutout notes on the Engine FAQ section.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000029

 

[xecutech]

Re: OMC 4.3 Stalls in reverse.

Thanks, I will look into that.<br />I was noticing the battery cables and one of them is attatched with jumper cables!<br /><br />I am going to buy 2 new batterys, cables and re-install everything. Could a bad battery or poor connections cause problems shifting?<br /><br />Instead of readjusting the cable, I am going to go ahead and replace the cable and have it adjusted professionally. On a scale of 1-10 what is the level of difficulty replacing the cable myself???

 

[xecutech]

Re: OMC 4.3 Stalls in reverse.

Today I installed an Interstate 24m-rd cranking battery, Interstate srm-29 deep cell, all new battery cables and terminals. Then it got dark, so I haven't tested it yet.<br /><br />Tommorrow, I am pulling it out of the lake, draining the hull, cleaning it up and dropping it back in the water for testing. I am going to attempt the cable adjustment mentioned above while it's out.<br /><br />Hopefully, it won't be anything major.