1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

[noj43]

Hello. Was out on the water a couple days ago cruising around. Everything was working great as i come into the dock. Put in reverse to slow, back into drive and no more forward. Checked the cable and it looked good. After getting it out of the water and turned off when i put it in forward it goes real (too) easy compared to reverse. Any help would be great. 1990 vip 1700.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

Hello. Was out on the water a couple days ago cruising around. Everything was working great as i come into the dock. Put in reverse to slow, back into drive and no more forward. Checked the cable and it looked good. After getting it out of the water and turned off when i put it in forward it goes real (too) easy compared to reverse. Any help would be great. 1990 vip 1700.

Bad lower shift cable is the probable cause. Tilt up the drive and look at the cable housing where it enters the drive on the right hand side. That is where they usually show failure.

 

[noj43]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

Thanks for the quick reply! I took a look and it looks fine. Its a red cable. Wouldnt it operate both forward and reverse? So if it was broke neither forward or reverse wouldnt work?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

Since one direction is a pull and the other direction is a push, totally understandable that reverse can work while forward doesn't. Whenever my cable failed that was the exact symptom.

All the cables are going to be red starting in or around 1990. That is after the recall was done so boats starting in 1990 automatically came with the newer cable. Since your boat is a 1990, it is very likely it has been replaced once since then as well.

Time to pull the drive.

 

[noj43]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

Ok that makse sense. It does feel way to easy when pushin in forward. Guess its time to buy a manual and a cable. Thanks!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

Buy a real OMC manual and not a Seloc or Clymer. Also, I suggest buying a real OMC cable as well and not aftermarket. They are still available and the difference in price is insignificant compared to the labor.

Keep your drive stored in the down position if you don't already do so. Way easier on the cable, as well as the bellows, because it sits in a more relaxed position that way.

Wjen you pull your drive you can manually put the drive in forward and reverse by moving the shift rod to make sure it is indeed the cable and not the drive itself. Basically, in forward it will click when rotating the prop clockwise and come to a stop turning the opposite.

 

[noj43]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

Hey. Figured out that the cable just moved or came out of adjustment. I adjusted it and has been working great.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1990 2.3 cobra omc. no more forward

If the adjustment moves again, replace the cable. Usually don't need to adjust these once they are originally set.