OMC Stuck in Reverse--

[murphini]

All:<br /><br />Had a strange problem and would like help diagnosing to stop from happening again. My 89 VIP Victory with OMC Cobra runs very well. As I was backing off my trailer Friday, I put into reverse, then tried go to neutral, but it stayed in Reverse. Could not get it out--was able to get to idling speed and circle backwards while I played around with the shift. I didn't want to kill the engine because it wouldn't start in gear--then it somehow popped back and I was able to get into neutral, fwd, reverse. etc. It worked the rest of the day, and worked all of yesterday without a problem.<br /><br />Question(s)<br />1. Any idea what caused it?<br />2. How to prevent?<br />3. How to fix if it happens again, besides getting lucky by jiggling?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

Murph, Take a look at this and be sure to follow the links provided:<br /> http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

Consider it a warning shot, and look at the link above. It will only get worse if you don't take care of it.

 

[metwrench]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

Whats the Lower end fluid look like ? Sounds Like the Clutch Dogs and Collar might have got stuck together....Weird but thats a Boat !<br /><br />Take a look at the fluid, maybe a change is in order

 

[marinemech]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

look at shift cable where it attaches to bell housing also where you able to move control handle or did it freeze up if control froze problem may be there

 

[marinemech]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

also check for proper esa (electronic shift assist ) opperation if it is not working drive will be hard to get out of gear<br />and engine idle speed must be at spec.around 600 in gear?

 

[murphini]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

THanks to all. I understood about 35% of what you are all saying--I had actually found and read that OMC document before and had it bookmarked. I'd be lying if I said I understood, but will work on getting it.<br /><br />I suspect it got stuck because I had a guest put the boat in reverse to back off the trailer and he may not have used the shift switch under lever properly and may have just jammed it into gear. Lower unit fluid is fine. I got in boat as it was backing out and was not able to get into neutral, which lead the the problem...etc.<br /><br />Since I drove for 3 hours on Friday and another 3 on Sunday without any incident, I am niavely optomistic the problem was in the lever mechanism, not in the outdrive.<br /><br />However, I will become more educated, and definately have the cable adjusted/over the winter, along with other maintenance.<br /><br />Boat has 474 hrs, but has been very well maintained. I've never had a vehicle that hasn't gone over 100k (including a 94 Dodge Minivan I drove to 189k) so I know the value of preventative maintenance.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: OMC Stuck in Reverse--

Sometimes setting the idle speed to spec helps.<br />Too fast an idle and the gear and clutch dog lock in really tight.This was done on purpose,because they were comming out of gear under load.<br />DHP