Yamaha outdrive shift problems

[scott261]

Hi, I've got a 95 Chaparral w/ 5.7ltr. Chev engine and a Yamaha outdrive. The engine blew in July of 2001, had my guy take it into the local mechanic who does all the warranty rebuild work for the motors, they fixed the engine. When my mechanic went to put the outdrive back on,he encountered all sorts of shift problems, told me it was the shift interupter and I needed a new shift cable, I bought that and took the boat to the local Yamaha dealer, they've had the boat for 10 weeks. They said it was a problem with the Shift control box, replaced it, then it was shift shoe,replaced it, then it was the shift shaft,replaced it, now they claim it's something else. Needless to say I'm frustrated, I looked into replacing the outdrive with a Merc. but I'd have to get a new shifter (I just did!!) gimble housing, bell housing, outdrive, and so on, $6000 later things might work. The way I feel is that these guys don't know what they're doing and/or they don't have the proper tools for the job despite being a Yamaha dealer. Does this make sense? From reading the few posts available it seems to me like these are pretty finicky drives bound for a lot of trouble if the dealer doesn't have the right tools. Any advice or insights would be hugely appreciated. I've been without my boat this entire season and would rather not be without it again next spring. Would writing Yamaha help, I'm not really in a rush to upset my Yammie dealer, given I believe they're the only ones who can help.<br /><br />Scott

 

[Trent]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Problems with your yammie..Call Ken at 850-234-0854. He knows Yammie outdrives backwards and fowards. He also can give advise on re-power.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Just cause they've got the Yamaha sign out front, doesn't mean they know about the sterndrives. Ask ole Bart. The main cause of shift problems in the Yamaha is corrosion in either the shift fork (located on the outdrive). Or the shift slide likes to corrode up and not slide on the end of the cable and last but not least, the cable can get stiff. Lots of times we find the problem to be mechanic induced. Either end of the cable is very easy to bend. If any side force is place on the ends of the cable, it will stiffen up and not slide correctly. I've never had a problem with the helm unit much less had to replace one. The shift problem should be an easy fix. As Trent said, I'm probably one of the last sterndrive dealers in the country still attempting to keep these things alive. Hey Trent, we may get some more cookies. As if we really need them!!!! I went down to the beach this weekend and some kids tried to roll me back into the water.

 

[scott261]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

If cookies is what it takes, my wife makes the best chocolate chip cookies this side of the 49th parallel (I on the other hand will supply fudge brownies that will keep you off the beach for at least 4 months). Thanks for the insight, any suggestions on how I should proceed? Does it make sense the way they've been replacing part after part each time thinking this new part would solve the problem?<br /><br />Scott

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Problem is Scott, you is screwed. You are paying these guys to learn on your unit. Unless you can find someone in your area that's an old Yamaha sterndrive repower center, they're not going to know the in's and out's of the unit. They've probably taken what was a simple problem and advanced it to the point that their repairs will have to be corrected first before the orginal problem can be solved. As far as I know, Florida was the only state that Yamaha had an independant distributor for the sterndrives. All other states came under Yamaha. RB Grove was the distributor that set me up as a sterndrive dealer in 89 along with others throughout the state. Once the sterndrive was dropped by Yamaha, my distributor dropped the line and I dealt with Yamaha then and became a dealer through them. Parts are getting scarce and its getting harder and harder to piece these things back together. I've been pulling a few out that's on their last leg and replacing them with new Mercruiser repowers. The old units are being kept for used part inventory. Give me an idea of where you're located in Canada and if I get a minute tomorrow, I'll call Kenasaw and see if they know of anyone in that area that knows anything about the sterndrive.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

SCOTT Doyourself a favor LISTEN TO KEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!I should have sent my unit to him after paying $$235.00 to the"LOCAL AUTHORIZED YAMAHA SERVICE CENTER" and all they had after 3 WEEKS was the bearing (ONE) out. Read my posts and you will see what it was like. I FEEL for you. It may be too late for physical help from KEN but he WILL share his limitless knowledge with you. CAPT KEN Did you get the recipe I e-mailed?? THANKFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY BART (UNLANDLOCKED) SR.

 

[triman]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Unfortunately I also have a Yammie leg on a 5.7 chev engine and it's causing me no end of grief trying to get the shift just right.<br />Any advice of a generic type from Capt Ken on what parts you should hit with a FBH (%&#*@$^ BIG HAMMER)to get the mongrel-bred thing to engage and disengage properly would be appreciated.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Recipe??? Didn't see no recipe, anyway, that would require me to enter the kitchen and that ain't going to happen. Now if its a recipe for the grill, bring it on. I have barbed wire around my grill, no one touches it but me. The shift on the Yamaha is very simple but you have to slant your eyes before working on them. First problem is the shift fork on the outdrive. The clearance between the bushing and the fork is tight and just a little corrosion will cause them to stick. Cure is: split the outdrive, remove the fork, drill the bushing out a size larger and reinstall everything. Cause 2: shift slide likes to get stiff or freeze up due to either corrosion or someone bent the end of the cable when installing the outdrive. Cure: remove slide but count the turns on the special nut holding it on. Should be 17 turns. You can clean the slide out with a drill and it won't hurt to enlarge it a size. If slide will slide over the cable end smoothly, reattach. If it still sticks, check for bent cable, if not too bent, you can straighten it with your fingers. Cause 3: bad cable. Heck, just remove both ends of the cable and see if it slides in and out smoothly. If it doesn't, replace the cable. If you have to do that, let me know, there's a secret to making it easy. Next, with the engine running, trip the shift switch on the engine. If it stalls the engine, fine. If it don't, disconnect the bullet connectors on the switch and hook them together. If the engine stalls, fix the switch. If it don't check the wiring. Now, what else ya'll want to know. Never been down under except once with that fat girl in high school.

 

[dennis mc donald]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

scott261 requested help with his Yamaha outdrive not sifting properly (Sep 02) - I have exactly the same problem with my Yamaha 3.5 litre with a Yamaha outdrive and no one seems to know how to fix it. Did Captain Ken's information about corrosion etc. solve the problem? This is my first time on this web site so I am not too familiar with the protocols. Thanks<br /><br />Dennis

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

3.5? Is that a Canadian thing? Never heard of that model. Now think hard is it a 3.0, 4.3, 5.0, 5.7? Makes no difference, they all shift the same.

 

[bo2]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

My shifter went out also. Pulled the leg off, checked the shift fork and it wasn't it. The shift cable somehow got nicked and it corroded up. Called Cappy, he next day mailed a cable to me, I installed it as per his instructions and it's fine. He's not bad to deal with, just turn over your credit card to his wife. Hey, Cap....what about those hoses?

 

[bo2]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Tri.. pull that outdrive off again and do a manual shift on the shifter. If it shifts ok, then it's in your cable. Like Cap says,, get someone in on the throttle and watch the shifter slide and see if it moves. If it doesn't move real easy and smooth, pull the tiny nut off and pull the slider off and look inside of it for corrosion. If corroded, run a drill into it and grease up.. If you have to replace the cable...that is, if the lower shifts ok and the slider isn't corroded, then it's the cable, then a 17 mm deepwell socket and a pair of vise grips works well. If it is the cable, say so and I or Cappy will tell you how to thread the new cable in.

 

[Trent]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

So Bo, You do lurk in the shadows?

 

[bo2]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Yeh..come out every full moon.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

WARNING>>>THIS IS A NUISANCE POST/REPLY!!!!!<br /><br />Let's make a FORTUNE!!!!!!Clone KEN and set him up in business in Canada!!!!!

 

[Trent]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Dont think you want to clone Ken.....!! All the after smells he makes runs off all the folks around!

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Heck, they tried to clone me once and came out with Trent. The orginal mini-me. You learn well Bo, but you forgot to tell him to count the turns on the slider nut.

 

[bo2]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

And there is the problem. You mentioned the 17 turns in your Oct post and I assumed that people can read. Anyways, I didn't know that this was a real old post brought back to life. I suppose by now, Triman has either resolved his problem or deep sixed the boat.

 

[scott261]

Re: Yamaha outdrive shift problems

Somehow or other my guys here got my boat fixed, told me he "macgyver'd it", not convinced it was done the way it was meant to be done but it works, does anything else matter? I guess time will tell. Can't say for sure if cappy's advice was key to the success in the end or not (I'd call him try and describe what my mechanic had told me, then call my mechanic and try to tell him what cappy told me, bit of a gong show really)but Captain Ken knows yammies and is a super guy to talk to, I really appreciate all of your help Ken. Feel free to get in touch anytime if you're in the area, I'll supply the Crown Royal!<br /><br />Cheers!<br />Scott