91 OMC King Cobra Transom Shift Cable issues

[seph510]

My boat will not shift into reverse when everything is fully assembled.

When I loosen the outdrive and create about a half inch gap between the outdrive and transom, then I can get forward, neutral and reverse with no problem.

As I tighten the six bolts on the outdrive, I can see the shift bell crank moving away from reverse and toward neutral. It doesn’t have to move very far (maybe 1/4 inch) and reverse becomes impossible.
I can get forward & neutral when fully assembled, but reverse becomes impossible.
PIC #1 - the gap
PIC #2 - reverse
PIC #3 - neutral
PIC #4 - forward

Any ideas on what is causing this?

 

[dubs283]

I know very little about the king cobra package but my guess is the lower shift cable is either out of adjustment or worn to the point of needing replaced

No clue as to where one would source a new cable. Maybe sierra, sea way, or brp?

 

[seph510]

The shift cable is new.

 

[dubs283]

The shift cable is new.

Then it must be the adjustment. Too much reverse/not enough forward

I have no clue as to the process of adjustment but I reckon it should be fairly straightforward

 

[alldodge]

Het @kenny nunez or @Lou C can you assist?

 

[seph510]

Couple of things I can see……

1 - tightening down the outdrive causer the shifting bell crank to move downward (away from reverse and towards forward). This has nothing to do with the attachment on top of the engine, because I currently have it disconnected at the top of the engine. It’s something to do with the cable connection with the bell crank inside the outdrive housing.

I am wondering if I have the shifting cable “attached correctly” to the belll crank attachment. The act of tightening up the outdrive makes that attachment housing smaller and when it gets smaller it forces the shifter away from reverse and makes it impossible to reach reverse.

 

[dubs283]

The act of tightening up the outdrive makes that attachment housing smaller and when it gets smaller it forces the shifter away from reverse and makes it impossible to reach reverse.

Got that from your OP

Again, you need to adjust the cable. Make it longer/shorter by adjusting the trunion for the anchor mount at the shift plate.

It's possible the remote cable needs adjusting as well

 

[Lou C]

Sorry I’m only familiar with the dog clutch Cobras. This is the totally different cone clutch KC.

 

[seph510]

Well…….I cracked the code. The outer sheath of the shift cable (the orange part) requires tension loading which is pulling it away from its attachment at the outdrive. I was able to get forward, neutral and reverse by simply keeping tension on that cable sheath. No other part of my set up was changed…….only took 12 hrs to figure it out.

 

[Lou C]

I’ve seen exactly one of these about 15 years ago on a F/W Liberator with a Chevy 454..