stuck in forward gear

[jluedke]

Ok,
took the 87 capri 2.3 (OMC Cobra) out on the water yesterday and just before loading up on the trailer i noticed that it only had forward and no reverse, even if you put it in reverse it still goes forward. Feels like it is just stuck there. Does it also when you put it in neutral and give it gas it has thrust.

any help would help
Joel

 

[tommays]

Re: stuck in forward gear

Your control Or shift cable could have failed

You will have to look in the back but the engine and see if the cables comeing from the control are moveing

Tommays

 

[jluedke]

Re: stuck in forward gear

With the cover off I can see that the cables are moving the yoke back and forth on the back top side of the motor. I am really wanting it to just be the back cable down to the rod, but I have not had a chance yet to check that one yet. I did notice that it is a red cable and I read on another forum that if it was red that it was replaced by the recall.

 

[marunr]

Re: stuck in forward gear

It still may need to be replaced, even if it was replaced by the recall. You should read through this carefully:
http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

(copy and paste)

You'll need to pull the outdrive to check this out and see if your cable has more than the maximum resistance. If so, it probably needs to be replaced unless the cable retainer is defective as explained in the site. Mine was defective. Even if the cable is fine it will have to be adjusted and the outdrive has to come off to do it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: stuck in forward gear

You can view the cable housing when you tilt up your drive. I bet you will see the housing has failed.

In any case, time to pull the drive and replace the cable.

 

[jluedke]

Re: stuck in forward gear

Good news.
After reading all day and going home and really looking at it, I noticed that the brass end had come unscrewed from the barrel nut on the engine side and was not allowing it to push in and out. Screwed it back in with a little lock tite and it now shifts in and out of gear. One more thing, the ESA lever was not even touching the teeth to cut the cylinders and drop the rpms.

thanks for all the help

I am back on the water now!!!

Joel