79 19 ft cobalt

[carguy5068]

Hello! Again i want to thank everyone who helped me get my 72 starcraft up and running. just came accross a 19 ft cobalt pristine condition boat.omc I.O 260 series runs great but wont shift. previous owner thinks he might have screwed something up when he changed impeller I have an excellant manual but shift cable looks like nightmare. could it just be out of adjustment? previous owner took pics of gears and his reassembly work and all looks fine compared to manual. have any of you run into this? and does cadillac have any association with cobalt boats? their emblem has a wreath around it much like a cadillac. this boat is imacculant, plush interior, mint teakwood. always stored inside covered. any ideas? all help apreciated

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 79 19 ft cobalt

could it just be out of adjustment?

no, the adjustment doesn't go far enough that it wouldn't at least attempt to shift into FWD or REV.
He might have damaged the shift cable.
There are uninsulated live 12V + connections all over the place on the back of that motor. Sometimes people get those stainless cables flopping around and they touch power. Then the cable melts the end off down in the lower unit.
That's why the manual says to remove the battery from the boat.
It's all guesses with the limited amount of exploration done thus far.
Offer with the assumption that the boat needs an entire outdrive.

 

[carguy5068]

Re: 79 19 ft cobalt

Hello thanks for input. Ive been talking with previous owner and he said when he had outdrive seperated to replace impeller the outdrive tipped over and was hanging from shift cable. he said he took boat out and it worked but hard 2 shift. then the next trip out it acted like it wouldn't totally engage in forward and didnt engage at all in reverse. I know this type of omc was the worst being the hydromechanical type but ive heard others say they work great in working order. ive also heard that if the fluid or grease is contaminated in the hydro assist it wont shift. Id like to change to newer cobra drive or better yet mercruiser. but then id need everything.else to go with so id like to try to make this system work. upgrading to cobra unit would require me to change manifolds amoung other things and truly thinking my problem lies in the cable/ cable adjustment. since it operated great this season. this boat has been cared for extremely well. when i tell people its a 79 they think its been restored.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 79 19 ft cobalt

Ive been talking with previous owner and he said when he had outdrive seperated to replace impeller the outdrive tipped over and was hanging from shift cable. he said he took boat out and it worked but hard 2 shift. then the next trip out it acted like it wouldn't totally engage in forward and didnt engage at all in reverse.

Ayuh,.... I'd think yer lookin' at Replacin' the cable....