The bell crank I am not sure on because I never had an issue with mine as long as I cleaned out that pocket behind it and kept it packed with OMC Triple Guard Grease. What you can do after you get it together: (ENGINE OFF KEYS OUT!) get a helper to work the remote shifter while you spin the prop. Starting in neutral, you spin the prop while your helper shifts to fwd, it should lock in firmly. Then spin the prop again and have them shift to neutral and try the same in rev., should lock in firmly. When you spin the prop as they shift it you will feel lock in. If it does in both, then the adjustment is probably fine. If it ratchets in one and not the other, its not getting enough shift throw for that gear position. This is what causes the problems with Cobras, either a stiff cable, or out of adjustment, or a remote control with lost motion. Any of these, can cause it to not go into gear fully and under power it will pop out of gear and round off the clutch dogs.
If its not right after you did the transom shift cable but not the remote cable, then you have to do the remote cable too.