OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

[cheers731]

I have owned the Four Winns 20.5 ft for 4 wks so far and like the boat a lot. It came with a 5.8L Cobra with outdrive model: 987126 and serial #: T0744784. The only trouble with the drive is hard shifting and I have done lots of reading/researching on web, including the section for adult only
Here is the symptoms:
1. The warm idle rpm at neutral is 1000 rpm, at forward gear is 850 rpm.
2. Easy but with a clund for shifting forward but hard to shift back to neutral.
3. Hard shifting into reverse but easy to shift out.
4. When I lift the interrupt arm, I hear a click but no hesitation of rpm till I released it, then I hear a split second of engine rpm drop.
I will pull the outdrive when winterizing the boat and do all the adjustment but hope you folks can help me to lower the idle rpm. I have download the repair manuals and will start with something less complicated first. Here are some pictures of the SEA setup and it doesn't resemble any pix from Hasting's publication. Please help me to identify the parts and all advices are appreciated.
Thanks,

Frank

 

[cheers731]

Re: OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

Sorry forgot to mention, it's a 92 model.

Thanks again,

Frank

 

[skeat]

Re: OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

The rpm needs to be around 650 rpms for it to shift properly and the ESA to work. It seems simple enough to lower it but usually someone has raised it because it wasn't running well in the first place. You will have to do some troubleshooting to get to the problem, eliminate one thing at a time. but hey you might get lucky and it just be the adjustment. Hasting's pictures are from a 4.3 but the theory is the same

Shawn

 

[dubs283]

Re: OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

probably time for a complete tune-up and shift cable adjustment

possibly even replace the shift cable

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

Yep, drop that idle about 300RPM makes a world of difference.

 

[cheers731]

Re: OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

Thank you folks so much, I will lower the rpm this weekend. I assume the 650 rpm mark should be set when in gear.

Thanks once again,

Frank

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC Hard shifting and high idle rpm

Couple of things...
as noted try to get it to idle at 600 in gear in the water...that will help it a lot
the other requires removing the drive...what can happen is that if the seal between the drive and the pivot housing (the part of the transom assembly the drive bolts on to) leaks just a bit water can get in and leave deposits behind the bell crank. The bell crank is what the shift cable moves and this in turn moves the shifter rod on the drive..if deposits and crud build up behind the bellcrank the shifting will be stiff...I clean out that area when I install the drive and pack the area behind the bellcrank with OMC/Bombardier triple guard grease. When I install the drive I liberally coat the gasket with OMC gasket sealer and that does help keep out the water which in turn results in better shifting..
When your Cobra is set up right it should go into and out of gear with 2 finger pressure....I had mine set up by a good mechanic 5 years ago and it still does shift that easy....