OMC shifting help

[nichollb]

Hello

I Have a 1991 Four Winns freedom '19 ft 4.3L w/OMC drive.

This is my 3ed summer with this boat. It has been a great first boat. Ideal for the local lakes and rivers that we use.

Ever since I have owned it the shifting has been stiff (takes a hand full to get it in and out of FWD/REV). Once in gear all is well.

Recently it started doing a weird thump once underway in FWD. no problem going from N to F, the sound comes as I start accelerating. Just one thump then fine. (it never seems to do it if I never was in R). only R to N to F then accelerate.
I have been searching the threads and from my novice thought is. I think it is out of adjustment and has something to do with a (dog clutch)??

My question I guess is there any simple adjustment to a cable and a way to lube the shifter?
I make a poor mechanic and more than that really don't have the time to do a multi hour project.

How do I find someone that can get me back into proper adjustment before something breaks? There are no OMC dealers around. The boat is in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: OMC shifting help

Welcome to the OMC shifter problem club. Your problem could be any number of things broke, don't work, or out of adjustment. The do it yourself club here gives great advise, but you have to be able (willing to take it on). It really isn't that bad, but can run into days/weeks waiting for parts to come. At the top there is a sticky reading how the shifting works on the OMC, if you read that you will understand its impossible to say what it is, or could be with out doing some testing.

As far as taking it to a shop, you may have to go out of your area. I live in Salem and the nearest shop I would even consider taking my boat to is in Portland. The shops here in Salem have no clue how the OMC shifting is suppose to work. (or they don't want to even deal with it) Best advise would be call some shops, and ask some questions about OMC shifting.. if you get one that knows about it, thats the shop I would take it to. But ask some questions about the dog clutch, shifter, ball system, limit switches.. if they can answer those kinds of questions, they should be a safe shop.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC shifting help

Don't run your boat anymore until you check your lower shift cable adjustment or replace the cable. Unfortunately, once you have this condition, the clutch dog teeth have usually rounded and they won't stay together under load anymore. If you are lucky, a new cable adjusted properly could solve your problem. Typically, this condition occurs when the cable goes way out of adjustment due to a failing cable but can also occur if a cable is adjusted by someone not following the factory service manual.

Tilt up your drive and look up under on the starboard side and see what the cable housing looks like where it enters the drive. This is where the cables usually fail.

 

[nichollb]

Re: OMC shifting help

Well I found a shop in Spokane that is going to take a look at it on Thursday AM. The guy sounds like he knows OMC's. His thought from what I briefly decribed to him was the intermediate cable needing a replacement and or adjustment. Ill let you know the outcome. Fingers crossed for an easy fix.