OMC Sterndrive Problem

[93corona]

We purchased a 1993 boat with a 5.8 cobra motor and sterndrive we took it out on Memorial weekend on Saturday and it ran great until I tried to load it up it acted like it did'nt want to go into reverse it just reved the engine up. So I put it neutral and tried again then went into reverse and worked fine. I then loaded it up and we took it out on Monday and it would not back off of the trailer and all it would do was turn the prop and go forward no matter where the throttle was moved to. Could someone tell me whether they think it is a cable problem or a problem with the outdrive. Thanks for your help!

 

[danond]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

Try shifting the drive manually with the transom shift cable. It's the one on the lower left side of the carburetor, it should be colored red. Unhook it from the carb and shift it manually.

If that doesn't work, either your cable core has come loose (it's clamped on by two little set screws on opposing sides, in the end of the black tube/plastic at the end of the cable, right behind the hole that connects to the linkage), or the cable has broken, or it's loose/screwed up in the drive.

Most likely the core has come loose from the clamping screws.

 

[93corona]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

Thanks for the info I will check that as soon as I can get to the boat. Thanks again Ed

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

It is going to be your lower shift cable more than likely. Tilt up the motor and look at the cable housing as it enters the drive on the starboard side. This is where the cable housing usually fails on these.

 

[93corona]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

Thanks for your reply also. I am getting it checked out at a boat shop also I found out the guy we bought it from replaced the upper unit with one off of a 3.0 two years ago that was supposed to be rebuilt How long will this last behind a 5.8 and is the lower unit compatible with both 3.0 and 5.8? This site is great thanks for the help.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

I believe the upper will be the same between the two. The different gearing is done on the bottom.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

upper ratios vary 21:21 3.0
21:18 5.0
21:16 5.8
Lowers are the same @ 14:26
Gearing is actually done in the upper

I would put money your shift cable housing broken at the lower

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

I stand corrected

I found this:
http://www.sterndrive.info/chart.html

 

[93corona]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

Thanks for that site from what it says about the gear difference do you think this will last for awhile or will it just decide to go out on us? Thanks again

 

[93corona]

Re: OMC Sterndrive Problem

We got the boat fixed at a boat shop and it was the upper cable that was bad. We took it out and it shifted great. Just thought I would share this.