shifting problems

[rowdyrebel]

I have a 89 Blue fin spectrum 19', 2.3L Ford Cobra outdrive.
It dosen't want to shift out of forward to nutral in the water.
The shift assist module makes the boat run kinda bad when plug in but dosen't help shifting.
Does it sound like the module is bad?
Do you think replacing it would fix the shifting problem?
Thank you for your time.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: shifting problems

Welcome to iboats.....
So you are sating it will shift into gear, but not out of gear but the shift interrupt (ESA) does function?.....
Souds like the shift cable is going bad, not the ESA...

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: shifting problems

It should shift from forward to neutral with or without module plugged in, but the module does need to be in place and working or else the shifts will be harsh and clunky bad for the drive gears. i'll bet your cable is streched and out of adjustment or it the sheath may be broken like mine was. If you raise the outdrive all the way up and look under the starboard side where the cable goes in and look close while someone else moves the shifter, if you see the cable move back and forth then you have a busted sheath, the outer cable should stay put while the inner cable does the shifting, in my peticular case I could see the outer cable was moving and it was busted right there where it goes into the shift housing. Either way you really should just pull the drive and just replace the cable and adjust it correctly then be done with it, nothing worse than shifting problems, it's dangerous trying to maneuver around boats and really hard on that drive.

 

[rowdyrebel]

Re: shifting problems

Thank you for your replie.
Is there some way to check if the cable is bad?

 

[thewooddogg]

Re: shifting problems

I'm a complete noobie to the OMC world.. however, I've read a lot about the transom shift cable adjustments and/or replacement.

I would suggest you search the forum for "shift cable omc" or something similar.. you'll find links to the famous Stuarts website about adjusting and testing you're existing cables. Personally, the website was hard for me to understand, but I read on this forum for about an hour or two and finally pieced it all together with help of other people descriptions.

Basically, all your cables need to move smoothly when disconnected from the engine (that's test #1)... if they do move nicely, you need to adjust the transom cable with Stuarts info (if not, the damaged cables need to be replaced)..

I've also heard of a recalled old style of transom cable that should be replaced, but I think that was before 89. I believe the new style of cable had a smooth red outer jacket.. the old one style might have been a ribbed black jacket.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: shifting problems

If it shifts fine out of the water on muffs but hard when you are in the water, it is probably your ESA. The extra loading of the water against the prop is when the ESA is needed.

 

[rowdyrebel]

Re: shifting problems

Good afternoon everybody
I'm still working on my 89 OMC 2.3 4cyl. I disconnected the transom shift cable from the shift lever.
The shift & throttle cables move alot easier but the transom cable seems to take bit of effort, "its kinda hard to move"!
Where do ya think I should go from there? "replace the cable"?
Thanks for your help.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: shifting problems

The lower shift cable should be fairly easy to move. with the drive removed.

The Cobra system is designed so that it takes a certain amount of force to separate the clutch dogs and get it out of gear. This *force* has to happen just prior to the ESA activating so that the engine will "Stumble" slightly after the force is applied to the shift cable (and clutch dogs) If the engine DOES NOT STUMBLE immediately after the force is applied to the cable (and dogs) the dogs will not separate (sometimes even a water hose will not separate dogs...but I digress!)

This is where careful adjustment and a good shift cable is CRITICAL. If the lower shift cable is only slightly out of adjustment you either won't have the correct separation force when the ESA activates or you won't get ESA activation at all when it's should activate.

If the cable is in bad shape (I.E. internally rusty, frayed, etc) the esa will activate just from the force required to move the cable all by itself!


That Hastings article is a pretty good description of how to adjust the cable. You must have a good cable to start with and the shift rod in the drive itself must not be binding either.

If the cable is black it may be the original cable...If you don't know when it was replaced and it looks bad, it probably is. Once the drive is removed you can move the cable by hand and determine if it's binding.... the drive needs to come off. check the actual movement of the shift rod. (while someone turns the drive from the yoke....have it on a stand or something.) This will tell you if there's binding in the drive. It should shift fairly easily.

You do have a (correct) service manual for your model/year don't you?

Cheers,


Rick


By the way, the ESA should only activate when coming out of gear....never when going INTO gear.

 

[rowdyrebel]

Re: shifting problems

Thanks for the input
I read that there is sappose to be 2.5 lbs presure to move it.
Its seems to take alot more then that.
I don't have the drive off yet,but I think that would help my diagnoses.
Anything else will help me undersand what i'm geting into thankyou.

 

[thewooddogg]

Re: shifting problems

Yeah, take the drive off to test the transom shift cable. Plus it'll give you a chance to adjust the cable correctly. I believe if you trying to move the cable while the drive is still on that you're actually trying to shift the drive, which would make it a lot tough to move.

Before taking the drive off, you might wanna search the forum for ways to test the ESA. I don't know how yet because I haven't had to deal with it.

 

[Coors]

Re: shifting problems

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/kw-shift.html
Hope that url is still good.

 

[thewooddogg]

Re: shifting problems

Found it...

I thought this was a massively helpful thread in my understanding of Stuarts website.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=55771&highlight=cobra+bellcrank

 

[Coors]

Re: shifting problems

Make sure you print it out....you'll need it again.

 

[rowdyrebel]

Re: shifting problems

Thank you for all your help.
I'm taking it apart this week end to see what I got.
Does anybody know a good place to get the transom cable?
I can get 1 locally But its $175.oo.
Ithink thats a little high, please tell me what you think.

 

[rowdyrebel]

Re: shifting problems

y'all have been soo helpful, thank you.
I pulled the drive off And checked out the shift system.
Everthing looks good except for the transom cable and i'm missing a bellcrank bushing,bellcrank plug.
I got the cable moving better but I think I'm gonna change it anyway.
I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks again

 

[thewooddogg]

Re: shifting problems

I'd check sites like dougrussell.com and sterndrive.info for a replacement.

Did you check for ESA functionality yet?

 

[Don S]

Re: shifting problems

I'd check sites like dougrussell.com and sterndrive.info for a replacement.

Why don't you guys ever recommend iboats?? They do provide this forum to you for free.
http://www.iboats.com/OMC_Sterndriv....268717--list_time.1201534784--view_id.270206

 

[thewooddogg]

Re: shifting problems

Sorry Don.. I'm not very good at finding parts on iboats yet. I always get lost when looking for something.

I love the look of their website and the professionalism they present so I'll try a little harder in the future. Hopefully they are making a killing off advertising to us though!

 

[thewooddogg]

Re: shifting problems

Based of this question... does Sierra brand parts that iboats.com sells compare well againist GLM that sterndrive.info sells or whatever brand dougrussell.com sells?

Iboats is considerably cheaper for some of the Sierra brand parts I need (like the cobra bellows).

And the shift cable rowdyrebel is looking for looks quite a bit cheaper also!

 

[rowdyrebel]

Re: shifting problems

Thanks for the site info.
I activated the ESA."finger on switch" and it worked then again later and it didn't work.

Think I should test the switch? do ya think the ESA goes bad intermittenly like that?
I cleaned & oiled the lower cable Looks good and works like new.
I hooked up all the likage all the way to the bellcrank, moves with finger action like ease.