OMC Cobra Help

[Mark22]

Hello everyone,

I could use some help regarding my OMC Cobra and my insurance company. Earlier this year, I hit a submerged object with my outdrive. It damaged the prop and propshaft and the insurance company paid to have it replaced. After it was fixed, I took it out on the lake and it started making a loud "thump" from the lower unit. I took it back in to the shop and they found that the bellcrank was bent and the shift cable was binding. The insurance company paid for this too. After the shop replaced these parts, it was still jumping out of gear. The shop says the gears are worn and need replaced. My insurance company says that the gear wear is normal and they won't pay for it. From the research that I've done, I have found that a bad shift cable and/or bent bellcrank will cause gearset to wear prematurely. I need to prove this to my insurance company. If anyone has documentation that can link a faulty shift cable or damage shift system to worn gears, it would be extremely helpful. If anyone has scans of service bulletins or any OMC documentation, it would be helpful. I have already looked through Stuart Hastings's site and found a few pieces of information. Anything would be helpful at this point! Send me an email at Brown2200@missouristate.edu.

1987 OMC Cobra 2.3L Ford engine
Model #232AMFTC

Thanks

 

[sea wolf]

Re: OMC Cobra Help

Is the shop doing the proper adjustments? The drive is 21 years old, & there is going to be some wear on the gears. How are you going to prove that the gears weren't worn excessively before you hit the object? How long did you run it after the repairs were done? If you continued to run it with it jumping out of gear, don't expect the ins. co. to pay for it. I think you are s.o.l.

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: OMC Cobra Help

Personally, I think you're luckey you got them to pay for the second repair.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: OMC Cobra Help

If you have already read through Stuart's site then you've got all the best info for cable, gears, shift issue's...good luck!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC Cobra Help

Ask the shop that did the repairs if they had the factory service info in regards to all the shift adjustment measurements. I doubt they do and adjusted the cable wrong.
I wish i still had the 87 manual i would scan it and send it to you.
The jumping out of gear is a sign it was never adjusted right in the first place..

 

[Mark22]

OMC Cobra Help

When the shop replaced the propshaft, they noted that the gears had only minimal wear. My mechanic said that it was not enough to cause a problem. The problem occured between the time that the propshaft was replaced and the bellcrank/shift cable was replaced. I'm sure that the impact caused clutch to be knocked out of the gear and through force on the shift linkage, bent the bellcrank upward. This is why it is out of adjustment. I need to attribute the bent bellcrank and/or shift cable to causing the gearset to wear rapidly. That what I have to get through to my insurance company. The shift system is out of adjustment due to damage and not to maintenance or mechanic error. Also, my shop is one of the largest in the area and is a dealer also. I'm not really worried about thier quality of work.

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC Cobra Help

Maybe if you can print out a copy of Stuart Hastings website on the Cobra, (do a search for it), in his write up he makes a point of improper adjustment causing the dog clutch/foward/reverse gears wearing and jumping out of gear issue.