Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Hello, to begin with please take it easy on me. This is my first boat
and I find myself easily getting lost in the terminology.

Earlier this week I bought a 1988 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3 Ford Motor
and an OMC Cobra outdrive. The boat would not shift into reverse and I bought it "as is". The seller was very honest in saying aside from the
shifting he couldn't promise nothing else was wrong. He did say they
had owned the boat for 10 years and had it out last season, though
they have had electrical problems in the past.

When I got it home I discovered a sheared lower shift cable as it went
into the lower unit. So I pulled the lower and replaced the cable.
After that and with muffs on the boat shifted into both gears and ran
under throttle, though it would hesitate slightly as it was shifted.

Today I launched it for the first time. Once in the water it started
right up as it always does and shifted into both reverse and fwd,
allowing me to clear the launch, pick up my passengers and safely
navigate out of the no wake area (not under throttle).

Once there I tried to throttle up and the motor died. It did this in
both fwd and reverse. After several unsuccessful attempts the motor
died just shifting into gear.

After a few hours of swimming we got towed back in and took the boat home.

Here's a few observations I have made; the carbeurator flaps are
totally free and hang open. On the left of the flaps is a lever that
is hooked to nothing, though I think it should be. To the right it is
hooked to a gold solenoid thing that I assume is the choke, though I'm
not sure. Manually closing the flaps while running kills the motor.

I don't think fuel delivery is an issue. The small amount I can
manipulate the throttle cable end without using the shifter pushed gas
into the carb as it should, and the motor idles fine when it's not
under load.

While researching I have read several references to the "ESA", which I
believe is the module mounted to the top of the motor on the starboard
side. Am I correct that this module is to slow down the idle when the
boat is shifted to avoid tearing up the gears? If so there is no
noticeable drop in RPM's when shifting. There is a large toothed
bracket coming off the rear lower cable mount, and when shifting a
wheel rides through these gears. In neutral the wheel is within the
teeth in the middle and with each shift to gear it rides to the top of
the teeth. Is this correct? I unplugged it to troubleshoot and there
was no change. The seller said the last people to service the boat
replaced this device.

One last caveat; I don't think this is relative to my problem but I
want to be thorough. Occasionally the starter sticks on, and I have to
pull the battery cable and tap the starter solenoid before I can try
again. I will be replacing this soon.

In closing, and in layman's terms, I guess I just need to know where
to start with this boat. I like to fix things myself and am good at
it, and I fear taking this boat in will cost more than I can afford.

Thanks in advance and I apologize for the novel and my "newness" to
boat ownership....

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Surely someone can throw me a bone here?...

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

I doubt its your ESA. To check it, get to the point where its behaving as described and unplug the ESA and see if it still stalls. If it now starts working, you need to adjust the cable properly so that the shift switch doesn't engage unless you are shifting out of gear.

You said you changed the shift cable yourself. Did you have a factory OMC manual? Did you have the tool that holds the bellcrank at the drive at 90??

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

bruceb58 said:

I doubt its your ESA. To check it, get to the point where its behaving as described and unplug the ESA and see if it still stalls. If it now starts working, you need to adjust the cable properly so that the shift switch doesn't engage unless you are shifting out of gear.

You said you changed the shift cable yourself. Did you have a factory OMC manual? Did you have the tool that holds the bellcrank at the drive at 90??

Click to expand...

I did try to shift the boat with the ESA plugged and unplugged, no difference. I used some directions and excerpts from the manual I found here on the forum.

I did not have the bellcrank tool; I set the shifter lever at neutral and measured the bellcrank with a 90 degree ruler to the face of the lower unit, then I tightened down the shift cable adjustments.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Since the ESA didn't cause your problem, you probably have a carb issue.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Roger, I think that definetely has something to do with it. My first plan is to replace the starter solenoid so I can start it without fear of the starter staying on. Then I will go into the carb.

Does anyone know where a person can get individual parts for the carberuator, more specifically the linkage going to the butterflies?

Also I didn't do any measuring when I installed the lower shift cable except for the 90 degree on the bellcrank. I put the throttle back on exactly as it was when I began, as well as the shift linkage. Could this have messed something up?

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

projo198 said:

Also I didn't do any measuring when I installed the lower shift cable except for the 90 degree on the bellcrank. I put the throttle back on exactly as it was when I began, as well as the shift linkage. Could this have messed something up?

Click to expand...

Since the ESA is out of the equation now, this isn't your problem.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

bruceb58 said:

Since the ESA is out of the equation now, this isn't your problem.

Click to expand...

Ok. I have been reading a lot today; could a bad shift interrupt switch be causing the motor to die when I shift it into gear?

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

projo198 said:

Ok. I have been reading a lot today; could a bad shift interrupt switch be causing the motor to die when I shift it into gear?

Click to expand...

Since you unplugged your ESA and have the problem, the shift switch isn't doing anything.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

bruceb58 said:

Since you unplugged your ESA and have the problem, the shift switch isn't doing anything.

Click to expand...

Where do you suggest I start at with the carb? I talked to the previous owners yesterday and they suggested I put the original starter solenoid and ESA back on, as the ones on it now were new when they were trying to figure out different problems. The older parts were still in the boat when I bought it.

Could a different and possibly incorrect starter solenoid cause my stalling problem?

At the least if this older solenoid is good at least my starter won't be sticking anymore. This greatly hinders the troubleshooting process.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

I also believe that my boat may have been upgraded to an electronic ignition. I will have to look when I get home, but I think the boat may have a CDI module installed. If this is the case I should also have an EST distributor installed, correct? What is the easiest way to tell the difference?

I downloaded the troubleshooting guide (CDI) from this forum for it and am going to check this all out when I get home.


This is just muddying he waters for me, but I thought it might mean something to you guys and hopefully help.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

I don't believe a Delco EST distributor is even available for that engine.

Take a couple pictures of the distributor...one with and one without the cap on it.

A starter solenoid is not causing your problem. Sorry to say this but the fact that you are asking that question leads me to believe you may be over your head here.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Oh I understand that a starter solenoid has nothing to do with throttle or ignition, but it was something the previous owners mentioned so I thought it migh be worth mentioning. Again I'm new to boats but work on cars and sport bikes. A lot. Just thought there might be a ground post or something on the old one that wasn't on the new one or something.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

The only thing that is on there is a post that bypasses the ballast resistor while the solenoid is engaged.


You have a manual for this right?

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Ok, i got the pics of the distributor like you asked. It's a "Mallory". The contacts inside the cup looked pretty clean, but I scuffed them lightly just in case.




I also replaced the starter solenoid. I noticed that the older one had "diode suppressed" stamped on the back and the one I took off did not. Here's a pic.



Here's a few shots of the carb. I believe I am missing some linkage where my finger is pointed, but I can't be sure.



Additionally I switched back to the original ESA. I did notice that the one on it was not grounded. When I was troubleshooting on the lake I propped it against a steel bolt head, but I doubt it was a good enough ground. This time I added spacers where I mounted the old ESA and grounded it to its own bracket. I did this because it looke like the wires were getting crushed during mounting. I hope this is adequate. Here's pics, the one I put in today is to the left.



Lastly I looked at how the lower shift cable was mounted at the engine. The book calls for 19.4cm between the edge of th cable crimp to the center of the shift pin hole. Since the new cable had a locking nut and the old one did not I still measured from the edge of the cable itself. It was close, I hope this is right.



Please let me know your thoughts.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

post what the linkage looks like for the choke plate on the other side of the carb.

What you are pointing at looks like the linkage for a fast idle cam on an auto application. Hopefully, this is a marine carb. You have a clear tube coming up to the base of it from the fuel pump?

The diode suppressed doesn't matter in your application.

If I were you, I would do the following:

1) new cap
2) new rotor
3) new points and condensor
4) adjust points with a dwell meter 36?
5) time the motor to spec with a timing light 10?
6) change fuel filter
7) new plugs

If you don't know how old the fuel is, change it out or run off a portable tank.

Until you do these things first, you are spinning your wheels.

Forget the ESA until you can shift into gear without the engine stalling. You will need the ESA to get OUT of gear eventually. It isn't even needed going into gear and really should not be activating going into gear if your cable is properly adjusted.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Here's a pic of the other side of te carb. I tried to post it earlier but the forum limits me to 6 per post and I was doing it from my phone. The small in-line fuel filter was changed recently, but isn't there another larger filter/ fuel water separator? To which are you referring to? Also in the box of spare parts there was another distributor cap, so I assume that was changes as well. Here's the pic, and thanks for the help.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Interesting that it has a Rochester carb on the 2.3L.

Not an expert but the choke mechanism looks ok.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Yes, the clear tube comes up to the carb from the fuel pump, and is routed in between the intake manifold. The gas tank was nearly empty when I bought it, an I topped it ff with new gas this last Saturday.

Re: Help please! Ford 2.3 and OMC Cobra outdrive stalls when shifted into gear.

Starter pic.