Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

[reference123]

78 OMC 800 drive. OMC 225 engine. In the drive with muffs on, boat will go into forward and reverse and prop will spin both ways.<br /><br />When we put it in the water on the lake and put it in reverse, drive clicks and no reverse. Engine revs as if it is in neutral but boat goes nowhere.<br /><br />Does go into forward but is somewhat hard to put back into neutral.<br /><br />Problem has both us and the shop scratching our head trying to figure it out. Anyone know of a reason this would seem to work out of the water but not in?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Is this a cable shift drive or electric shift? They changed, either in 78 or 79. And did the 'shop' look any further than scratching their head?<br /><br />ps, where are you located. I've got a local outdrive mech that gets OMC's shipped in for repair from all over the country. He knows them like the back of his hand.

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

It is a shift cable. They have checked the cable setup pretty well but we have not dug into the drive itself yet.<br /><br />That will be our next option but hate to do that if we are missing something related to the controller or cable.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Originally posted by reference:<br /> It is a shift cable.

Actually, the correct question is... is it a mechanical shift or electric shift.

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

mechanical

 

[jlinder]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

I have an 88 OMC cobra. I know you said you have an 800, which could be totally different. Hope what I am about to describe is applicable.<br /><br />The cobra gears are undercut to keep them from popping out of gear. When you shift the ESA module interrupts the ignition for a second to take force off the prop so the gears can shift into neutral. This could explain why it shifts fine on land, but in the water there is force on the prop.<br /><br />If this was not working on your drive it would have problems shifting from the gear it was in to neutral or any other gear. <br /><br />Buddy was bringing boat in last year and shifted into reverse. Stayed in forward and drove boat up onto the dock. Not good.<br /><br />Could this be part of your problem? Also, on the Cobra you want to make sure the idle speed is not too high. If I remember the spec is about 600-700 RPM for my boat.<br /><br />Hope it helps, hope it is applicable for your drive.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Reference...<br /><br />You might have a stretched cable or worse, a bad clutch dog in the lower. But I would investigate the cable first.

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Our focus is on the cable based on it seems to have happened when the piece of wood the control is attached to fell out of place. But, it could just be a coincidence.<br /><br />Maybe we will try and replace the cable and see if that solves it as I have wondered if it could be a stretched cable.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Originally posted by reference:<br /> Our focus is on the cable based on it seems to have happened when the piece of wood the control is attached to fell out of place. But, it could just be a coincidence.<br /><br />Maybe we will try and replace the cable and see if that solves it as I have wondered if it could be a stretched cable.

Even if it were a stretched cable, you could adjust for it in the "box'. That unit uses a hydraulic pump to assist in changing gears. The pump is protected by a very fine screen which is prone to plugging up. When that happens, shift problems will occur and parts will wear/break. There is also a strong spring which is meant to ram the unit into forward in the event of a cable break.<br /><br />I would vote against the cable unless it is just an adjustment issue.

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

In reading through my seloc manual, I am thinking that maybe the torsion spring in the shift converter housing may have been damaged. Would that cause this kind of a problem?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Originally posted by reference:<br /> In reading through my seloc manual, I am thinking that maybe the torsion spring in the shift converter housing may have been damaged. Would that cause this kind of a problem?

I think all the torsion spring does is to hold the cable housings, in place, in the converter box. You can take the cover off and check it out. I think your problem is in the outdrive. <br /><br />You state it shifts on the muffs but not in the water. The difference is that the prop creates resistance when in the water but not on land. I think that you have a hydraulic problem. <br /><br />Try to find an OMC guru. It sounds like the shop your dealing with has limited knowledge.

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Thanks for the feedback. Finding an OMC specialist around here is somewhat difficult. The local shops that will look at it are limited but hopefully I can find one that knows more.

 

[tommays]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

i could be worng but i thought one drive around that time shifted Hydraulic<br /><br />i had thought they went from electric to Hydraulic to manual as different years and models were made<br /><br />tommays

 

[KaGee]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Sorry Reference...<br /><br />I have an '82 800. There are some things in the SELOC manual that do not jive with my unit. I pop into EBAY every now and again looking for the "shop" manual... so far no luck. <br /><br />It appears that my shift adapter box has a spring load that automatically adjusts the cable tension. You should be able to see inside the shift box if there is any slack affecting the long cable (reverse). <br /><br />I also forgot about the hydro assists that were out there. Again, my unit appears to be a direct shift. As Boom suggests, someone more familiar with the hydro shift system needs to help you.<br /><br />Sorry man!

 

[marinemech]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

there is a large spring inside of prop shaft i have had many disintergrate causing coils to bind up resulting in no reverse problems unfortunatly you must disassemble lower gear case to remove/replace spring(sorry) also check end of cable where it goes into shift box for streching if it is cable replacement also required

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

OK, took it out to the lake today. Went into reverse fine in the drive with muffs, no reverse once submerged.<br /><br />Pulled the cable off the box in the engine compartment and tried to shift it into reverse by hand. Would get to the point it was grinding the gears but would not go fully in. Tried putting the cable back on and adjusting it to go farther into reverse with the same result.<br /><br />Went into forward no problem but coming back into neutral using the control it was not real easy.<br /><br />Any help based on this additional info would be really appreciated.

 

[tommays]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

i have only taken apart the omc outboard verison of the drive with hyd shift <br /><br />i am wondering when you changed you oil how it looked because once you move the lever the hyd pump moves the shift in the drive i dont thing its a matter of pulling it more it is a strange system because the motor has to be running to make hyd pressure in the shift pump<br /><br />have you allways used the same gear oil because of the hyd pump it could matter more than other drives<br /><br />it was to long to remenber all the facts but it sounds like something has failed or is cloged<br /><br />tommays

 

[KaGee]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Sounds like time to take her down and see what's going on. I would think from your description of how things happened that something broke, which case you should be able to see something.<br /><br />Tommays.... From what I have read of the OMC history, The lower units were carbon copies of the ones used in their 4/6 cyl outboards. In fact, some of the lower unit parts are interchangable.

 

[reference123]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

Thanks for all the help on this guys. Local shops (the few that will even look at it) have turned out to be no help. Looks like I will be making a 6 hour road trip to Page, AZ to take it to a guy that is supposed to be really good.<br /><br />The joys of owning an old drive and not being very mechanically gifted

 

[jawzzy]

Re: Strange reverse problem on OMC 800

I have an '82 800. There are some things in the SELOC manual that do not jive with my unit. I pop into EBAY every now and again looking for the "shop" manual... so far no luck. <br />

If you check out this site, you should be able to find the shop manual you're looking for. I got the ACTUAL OMC manual for motor and outdrive for my specific '82 year and model. <br /><br /><br /> http://www.maxrules.com/fixomcdrivesindex.html#