1986 OMC/Stringer shift problem

[Renken1]

Hello everyone. I resurected an '86 Renken bowrider from certian death a few months ago. The boat has the 3.0l 4cyl. Everything has been great so far, I've taken it out every weekend for 2 months now, prob logged 25+ hours on her.

My problem is when I go into reverse the shifter has to be pulled WAY back in order for it to engage, and as soon as it does engage its throttling up a good bit. Forward gear engages perfectly. I am very mechanically inclined, but this is my 1st boat and I don't want to just start adjusting on things I don't know about. I know nothing about the ESA systems either.

I have read through countless pages before resorting to asking this question as I'm sure the answer is somewhere in here, but I can't seem to find it. Thanks very much in advance to anyone that can help me fix my problem!!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1986 OMC/Stringer shift problem

I would put it in neutral, go back to the converter and make a reference mark on the case above the neutral position of the shift arm. Then I would disconnect the helm cable from the converter shift arm and try shifting it from there. If everything is good with the drive shiftcables and their loading into the converter, you will be able to engage forward or reverse with less than an inch arc of the converter arm.

If that checks out, then you have an issue with your helm lever. If not then the issue is with the converter or the outdrive shift cable.

 

[Renken1]

Re: 1986 OMC/Stringer shift problem

Thanks for the reply. I had it out yesterday. I noticed its sometimes getting hard to disengage forward now, like whatever disengages forward gear is sticky. The rest of the range, from WOT to idle is smooth, only sticky when I would try to go into neutral.

I will try your suggestion. I noticed that when in reverse, to get it back into neutral, it has to be moved way past the point that reverse engaged, up on the lever range where it should be disengaging reverse if it were working right.

Can I access everything by removing the phillips head screw in the center of the lever, or do I have to go in from the back of the panel?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 1986 OMC/Stringer shift problem

OMC Stringer Nominal Neutral Adjustment - Crowley Marine

 

[Renken1]

Re: 1986 OMC/Stringer shift problem

Thanks very much for the link. With Labor day weekend around the corner i want to get these issues worked out.