OMC outdrive reverse issues.

[army2000ng]

My 1985 Stingray Seaswirl 3.0 omc outdrive will not go in reverse. Though when I have it on ramps and out of the water with outboard down it works perfectly?
However;when I have it in the water that the problem occurs. The gears sound like they want to engage, but they won't. I took the outdrive hosing apart 6 times and made many adjustments, but still the same thing.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC outdrive reverse issues.

are the spring loaded pawls on the shift converter box doing their thing to tension the lower cable?

what housing did you have apart?

 

[army2000ng]

Re: OMC outdrive reverse issues.

I have removed the lower drive unit, make adjustments to the shaft leading to the prop gears. I do not know of any spring loader paws on the shift converter box that you are referring too? Where is it located?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: OMC outdrive reverse issues.

I'm pretty sure you make the adjustments at the shift box and not at the shift rod in the lower unit. But hey, I could be wrong and you might be able to do it there as well. Did you drain the lower unit? If so did you notice any metal filings on the magnetic drain plug? I have a suspicion that possibly your dog clutch has rounded off. In the driveway there is no load on the prop so there might be enough metal there to engage the prop in reverse but in the water there's a load on the prop and that could be enough to let the clutch slip. I would imagine you would hear some nasty sounds coming from there. Just a thought.