Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

[subcrx]

I have an 87 OMC cobra with 5.7l. Since day one Ive have problems with my drive clunking in forward. When shifting into forward I notice the shifter has to move much further than reverse to catch. I finally closed this gap by increasing the throw on the shifter handle. But my question is is it possible the adjustment at the bellcrank where the spinner nut is. If that adjustment is too far forward or back would it restrict the travel of the cable and the clutch dog?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

What do you mean by clunking in forward? If this clunking is while shifting, that is normal. If the clunking occurs while you in gear and applying throttle, you probably have worn dog gears.

Sounds like your shift cable isn't adjusted properly if the throw in forward is not the same as the throw in reverse. Has anyone changed the shift cable on this? If so, did they use the proper tools to perform the adjustment?

 

[subcrx]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

The shift cable was replaced a few years ago at a shop. However the outdrive was stolen at a yard I was keeping it at. Their insurance replaced it with a reman since new wasn't available. My question is this though. Lets say I was shifting by hand at the trunion disconnected from the bracket. Would it matter where the adjustment was at on the bellcrank where that spinner nut is. Could that restrict the travel in the upward or lets say forward direction?

 

[Reinell-BRXL-191]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Yes it could, the shift cable has exact specifications for where the position of all components are. There is an exact length of engine side cable, bellcrank position, and drive side side cable length.. these are all set with 2 tools, OMC part numbers 914017 & 915271 - if these 2 tools are not used to set the position of the cable length, the shift cable will be off, and it will end in disaster... many sets of cobra gears have went by the wayside because of improperly set cables...

 

[wcasey5]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

if you disconnected the cable totally from the shift bracket, and just shifted it by hand, it shouldn't matter where the bellcrank was as long as it was close. You could find neutral, and shift fully into forward and reverse by pushing and pulling the cable. When I attached my cable, all my measurements were correct but the trunion was in the wrong position. It made it so I got reverse, but to shift into neutral from forward, I had to put the shifter into a bit of the reverse position. I threaded the trunion to a different position (in my case toward the stern) and that got my forward, neitral, and reverse in the correct place on my shifter. If that makes sense.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

I dunno if your setup is the same as mine. I have an 89 Cobra with a 5.7. I installed all new shiftcables (upper and lower) without the special OMC tools. You just have to follow the book. Its been a while so I forget but you need two people so one can hold the shifter thing (too early in morning) in the pivot housing straight while you set the length and adjust it.

My setup always shifted ok but man after I replaced the cables it shifts easier than I could have ever imagined.

You do have an OEM service manual right? If you do then just follow the book and set it right and it will stay that way.


Maybe a good idea would be for you to unhook the shift cable at the engine and then install it again as if it were new, doing all of the adjustments along the way. Then you would know that was good. Maybe your lower shift cable is bad. Mine looked good fron inside the engine comp but it was worn on the other end.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Would it matter where the adjustment was at on the bellcrank where that spinner nut is. Could that restrict the travel in the upward or lets say forward direction?

Yes it could. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't understand the mechanism.

if you disconnected the cable totally from the shift bracket, and just shifted it by hand, it shouldn't matter where the bellcrank was as long as it was close.

Disagree.

This is why you need the bellcrank tool because if the bellcrank wasn't installed correctly, you could have more throw in on direction or the other.

 

[Reinell-BRXL-191]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Here is the "Book" - and it calls for the use of the tools - I know people have used rulers, pieces of wood, protractors, etc etc etc... but with these tools being so cheap on eBay.. I wouldn't even consider trashing a drive because of a 1/4 inch screw up... let alone be worried about a "friend" on the engine side making sure the cable didn't move 1/32nd of an inch.. the average persons eyes can't even perceive that much of a movement... but the gears in a cobra can...

http://www.midnight-wolf.com/OMC_Install_Instructions.html

 

[wcasey5]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Disagree.

This is why you need the bellcrank tool because if the bellcrank wasn't installed correctly, you could have more throw in on direction or the other.

by close, I meant 1 or 2 degrees off, meaning very very close. I agree, if it is out of adjustment to the point where you don't get full travel, then you have to adjust it properly. If you disconnect the cable at the engine side, then you take the trunion out of the equasion and you should get full gear engagement for forward and reverse. In which case adjusting the trunion (I assume spinner nut) will get your gear shift in sync with the actual shifting. I don't know if I said that right, but that's the Issue I had with mine. And I solved it by moving the trunion to dial it in.

 

[wcasey5]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Here is the "Book" - and it calls for the use of the tools - I know people have used rulers, pieces of wood, protractors, etc etc etc... but with these tools being so cheap on eBay.. I wouldn't even consider trashing a drive because of a 1/4 inch screw up... let alone be worried about a "friend" on the engine side making sure the cable didn't move 1/32nd of an inch.. the average persons eyes can't even perceive that much of a movement... but the gears in a cobra can...

http://www.midnight-wolf.com/Cobra_Shift_Cable_Install.pdf

http://www.midnight-wolf.com/OMC_Cobra_Shift_Cable_Adjustment1.pdf

http://www.midnight-wolf.com/OMC_Cobra_Shift_Cable_Adjustment2.pdf

much better pictures than the manual I was working with.

 

[subcrx]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Great links there. I can actually read those ones. Lets call it the retainer at the shift lever according to those photos. Now I see it could cause a restriction, but only in the forward motion. If the cable threads are sticking out far then you could engage forward and reverse completely. If it was too close to the shift lever. Lets say flush with the retainer nut The crimp on the cable would block the shift lever from traveling any further. The reason I'm asking these questions is I'm trying to just narrow down if the dog gear is already screwed up. Im going to take it out and shift it manually from the engine to see if the drive is bad. If so then I'm finish with omc for good. I've had enough. Going to go with sei conversion.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

I am going to reverse what I previously stated. The throw of the bellcrank can't change due to adjustment assuming the shift fork height is also adjusted properly. I forgot that the bellcrank sits on a detent on the shaft axle.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

To the OP, I saw your other thread where your drive clunks while in gear going forward. You almost definitely have bad dog clutch gears which were damaged by an out of adjustment or damaged shift cable.

 

[subcrx]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Yes it does clunk, but it has it's moments. If I jam it in and out of gear a few times it seems to go away.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Probably depends on which of the multiple possibilites that the teeth mesh. Some of the teeth probably mesh better than others.

 

[subcrx]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Alright I'm just gunna step up then. I got ahold of a retired omc mechanic. He's gunna take the drive, open it up and fix anything thats necessary. Bring it back and adjust the shift cables as necessary with the proper tools. I was about to just step up and do the SEI conversion but he advised against it. Said those drives dont handle well in salt and are noisy. Looks like I'll be hanging around in the omc forum for a while.

 

[subcrx]

Re: Question about Cobra shift cable travel at the bellcrank.

Alright I found out how to adjust the shift lever to get full travel in forward and reverse. If the Threads are sticking all the way out on the shift lever and the lever is pressed all the way into the bellcrank, that will give you full travel in both directions. I Adjusted it to that to rule out if my clutch dog is bad. I put the boat in the water yesterday and shifted into forward and took it out for a while. The gears did not slip once at all. I even had reverse working fine as well. I hope this lasts.