omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

[BLinindoll]

just bought the boat the other day. 1988 4.3L omc four winns. almost near the end of working out 20 years of little issues. one of the last ones is this...

forward throttle makes it shift into reverse. reverse throttle makes it shift into drive. the lower unit has been replace in the past. it has the correct prop and lower unit. the shift bracket on the engine all looks to be good. everything shifts and drives great, just the shifter works bass ackwards.

i have already disassembled the control box three times because everyone keeps telling me the cable needs to be switch. i cant see any way anything can be switched around in there. it is the oem control box. i am out of ideas! HELP!

 

[tslarson]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Maybe when the gearcase was replaced it was replaced with a counter rotation model. Look on the very end of the propeller shaft if it is stamped with a "CR" it is the counter rotation model. If this is true, all you need to do is install a counter rotation propeller.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Post a pic of your shifter.Jerry

 

[Don S]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Could be as simple as the wrong prop. The previous owner may have bought an ebay prop without knowing it was a counter rotating prop.

A simple test would be to start the engine on muffs and see which way the prop shaft turns when in forward gear. Standard rotation is clockwise looking from the stern forward.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Jeez he types fast. I was gonna post that. I type 2 fingers. Maybe wrong prop is all.

 

[tarheelebbtide]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

See, you guys are better than me. I was gonna suggest he turn his seat around!

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

As I stated, it is the correct prop and lower unit.

I checked to make sure the transom cable moves IN to engage forward and it does. This means the problem is somewhere between the transom cable and shifter. I am still going for the shifter being the problem. I just cant see what i could possibly change to make the shift cable move the other way.

Here is a picture of what shifter I have. If you want I can eventually get one of the insides if it will help.

 

[Don S]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

As I stated, it is the correct prop and lower unit.

How do you know it's the correct prop, or the correct drive, or that when you took the contol apart it all look ok, What did you compare it to??????

Instead of posting what you think is ok, do some simple tests. Like the one I mentioned earlier.

A simple test would be to start the engine on muffs and see which way the prop shaft turns when in forward gear. Standard rotation is clockwise looking from the stern forward.

That alone could eliminate some things, and a picture of the prop would be a great help. No one here can see what you do.

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

I am not posting what I "think" is ok. If I say it is ok, it is because I KNOW it is ok. I didnt feel the need to make the post any longer than it was but ok...

I know it is correct because I called the place where the outdrive came from and had them check the part number. It is correct and NOT a counter rotation unit.

I also checked the prop to make sure it was the correct by looking at it and also combining what I saw with my knowlege that the prop spins clockwise in forward. It is correct.

Both are correct. They are now eliminated from the equation.

And when did I say the control looked ok? I wouldnt have said that because like you said... I have nothing to compare it to. I said I can't see anything that could be switch. Not that it looks ok. Let me change my statment to a question... Is there anything I can change to make the cable move the other direction in my control box?

Give me some credit here. I'm not an idiot.

 

[mcleaves]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Give me some credit here. I'm not an idiot.

Nobody is calling you an idiot, but you have 3 posts and were asked to verify some information. We have no idea what your skill set it or what you DID to verify the info.

The people asking the questions knowledgeable, and one in particular is a longtime certified marine mechanic. He's not asking questions for the fun of it.

That like going to a Dr and saying I have this problem. The doctor asks you to get a blood test to rule out some things and you say it's not gonna show up in my blood. The doctor asks for the test again and you say I know it's not related to my blood. Asked again and THEN you say that you already had a blood test. Should the doc just trust you before you explain why? I sure wouldn't want to go to that guy.

Just answer the question. Internet providers aren't charging by the keystroke. Feel free to be verbose.


M

 

[tslarson]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

The control box you have pictured is compatable with your drive. You can't change the cable position on this box. It is what it is. The drive should shift into forward gear when you pull the transom cable (the red one) OUT, not in. The part number on the drive tag maybe correct, but someone may have changed the lower half to a counter rotating unit.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

It can't be the control or the cable, I have a pair of Cobra's, one standard and one counter rotating, everything is the same up to the drive itself where it becomes different, as mentioned above someone could have changed your lower unit or even the entire drive. Can you give us the model # off the side of the drive? Should be something like 985269 or 985279.

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Yup... as of right now it sounds like the lower unit is to blame. The guy at the marina told me that the cable needs to move OUT do engage drive. he was wrong. I went down the today and looked at an identical boat they happen to be working on. Everything is the same. I am going to bet that the place that sold the lower unit back in 2004 sent the wrong unit. I have the paperwork showing the order was for a standard drive unit. I'm gonna call them up and give them the part number off the side of the unit and if its wrong im gonna see if they will replace it. They better, I mean it's obvious that the correct unit was ordered. I have the proof. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks!

 

[mcleaves]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

I thought you removed the drive from the equation? You verified it was turingin correctly?

Anyhow, there is no need to replace the lower. Nothing wrong with it. You just need the correct prop. If you want to fight on principle that's fine, but the correct prop will fix the problem.

What is interesting to me is that nobody obviously RAN the boat with this configuration since the problem would have reared its head immediately. So this baot must not have run since '04?

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

I was assuming the guy at the marina gave me the correct information, which he did not. But anyways...

Yes, the boat has been drivin like this since the lower unit was replaced. The guy I bought it from said someone told him he just had to switch something in the control and it would be fine, but he never did and he said he just got used to it. Lol. i guess some people just dont give a crap.

The only numbers I see on the lower unit are 188709. The I/O plate says part number 985269, but that really has nothing to do with the lower.

Am I being anal buy wanting the correct direction lower because it spins that direction to compensate for the drivers weight? or is it going to matter? I'd like it to be CORRECT, not just WORK.

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

I just looked at the prop shaft after reading that it would be stamped on there and sure enough... "C R". They sent the wrong lower unit. Now it's time to get on the horn. Turns out you CAN run a unit in reverse for quite some time... lol. I shouldn't be laughing though... the damage has probably already been done, and I have a feeling im not going to get anywhere with calling up the place it came from. Anyone have any suggestions? Are they still liable even though it has taken 4 years to figure out that they sent the wrong unit?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Are they still liable even though it has taken 4 years to figure out that they sent the wrong unit?

Uh. I'd bet they aren't.

If you were the original purchaser and you didn't run it and you notified them immediately, of course.....you might get somewhere....

I hate to say it but you have a drive that was run backwards for an undetermined number of hours. Conventional wisdom says (unless it's a Bravo) running a drive backwards might damage it.....maybe not for a Cobra but they designed it (the CR unit) to run "backwards" so I'll bet there's a warning that says "don't run any Cobra the wrong way"

You could just put a CR prop on it and run it till it blows.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

I also checked the prop to make sure it was the correct by looking at it and also combining what I saw with my knowlege that the prop spins clockwise in forward. It is correct.


You know the folks on here are only trying to help you but when you post stuff like this and then change it around later it makes it hard to help, we have to believe what you are saying because your there and we're not.


Anyway:
I would think after 4 yrs you are "SOL" but it doesn't cost anything to make the phone call assuming they are still in business. I find it really hard to believe that the previous owner would just accept it the way it was and continue to use it???

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

Yep... looks like im SOL. Just ordered a CR prop. It'll have to do for now. Thanks guys!

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: omc cobra... forward is reverse and reverse is forward

I also checked the prop to make sure it was the correct by looking at it and also combining what I saw with my knowlege that the prop spins clockwise in forward. It is correct.


You know the folks on here are only trying to help you but when you post stuff like this and then change it around later it makes it hard to help, we have to believe what you are saying because your there and we're not.

The prop IS correct. Just not for the lower unit.

And I wasn't trying to be a ****. I was just trying to explain in detail how I came to my conclusion that it was correct. I appreciate everyone who helps out on ANY online forum.