Converting A 800 stringer to full mechanical shift

Hi everyone
I am going to start converting my drive tonight. I have the lower unit is installed and painted already. I have the new shift converter and a OMC conversion kit
with the ESA module,when I bought it they said it was the most complete set for converting.
OK,My question is should I watch out for anything special when installing this?
Ill also need help when setting the shift cables up. My manual is a OMC 1981
book.
Thanks everyone!
Beef

Re: Converting A 800 stringer to full mechanical shift

Good move beef. That's a good unit. I assume you had a lowprofile electric shift? I'm not sure what is included in an "OMC Conversion kit"?

Have you drilled out the hole in the intermediate housing to accept the larger shift cable? Once done I would degrease the hole, swab in some zinc chromate, then a top coat of enamel. If you do not do that, water will accumulate in the cavity a cause a lot of corrosion build up.

Because your intermediate housing does not have the retainer clip for the shift cable, you'll want to run some 4200 around the grommet, on the cable, before you push it into the hole. I would not fill the entire channel with goop cause it would be hell to ever pull that cable out again.

Re: Converting A 800 stringer to full mechanical shift

No,Im sorry 1981 hydro mech shift. I have a clip to hold the cable
Thanks
Beef

Re: Converting A 800 stringer to full mechanical shift

THE BEEF said:

No,Im sorry 1981 hydro mech shift. I have a clip to hold the cable
Thanks
Beef

Click to expand...

Hmmmm? I guess that was a pretty big assumption on my part. Coulda sworn I saw the word 'lectric' in there somewhere, but looking back 'twas all in my imagination.

You must have been right on the line, having a hydro-mech in an '81. If I'm not mistaken, they made the change to full mech in midyear.

I do believe that the full mech box operates the reverse of the hydro box. You'll want to take that into account when you set it up.

Re: Converting A 800 stringer to full mechanical shift

If your right on the reverse shift from a hydro mech do I have to replace the shifter or can the shifter be modified to work?
Beef

Re: Converting A 800 stringer to full mechanical shift

THE BEEF said:

If your right on the reverse shift from a hydro mech do I have to replace the shifter or can the shifter be modified to work?
Beef

Click to expand...

The shifter remains the same, the reverse direction occurs in the shift converter, in conjuction with the full mech converter and the different full mech shift cable coming out of the drive. I think you ought to have a manual for the routing of the cable, in the box and it's calibration, to make sure you are getting full forward and full reverse plus the dead center neutral position. If the converter does not allow the O/D to shift positively into gear, there will be trouble in paradise.

I have never done the full mech set up so I can't advise there.