O.M.C. 800 stringer, no reverse

[hairball54]

I have a 260 OMC in a 1981 26 ' Searay, 800 Stringer drive, cable shift. It goes into forward great, and on muffs will go into reverse. when it is in the water, it will not go all the way into reverse. I can hear it trying to,like the teeth are just about meshed, but no go. There is no other noise in neutral, or forward, and I have run it for 2 years like it is ( use kicker motor for reverse) so I know gears are not busted up. Gear oil was replaced with OMC oil, I have tried to adjust the shift cable & even had a boat dealer look at it, all to no avail. any ideas ????

 

[gjcombs]

Re: O.M.C. 800 stringer, no reverse

I have a 260 OMC in a 1981 26 ' Searay, 800 Stringer drive, cable shift. It goes into forward great, and on muffs will go into reverse. when it is in the water, it will not go all the way into reverse. I can hear it trying to,like the teeth are just about meshed, but no go. There is no other noise in neutral, or forward, and I have run it for 2 years like it is ( use kicker motor for reverse) so I know gears are not busted up. Gear oil was replaced with OMC oil, I have tried to adjust the shift cable & even had a boat dealer look at it, all to no avail. any ideas ????

hairball54,

I had this same problem on an 1981 800 sterndrive. The problem was not the gear teeth, but the lugs on the reverse gear and clutch dog were slightly rounded and did not allow full engagement.

Set your mind on pulling the lower unit. Be careful not to damage the shift cable $$$$. Get upper and lower seal kits too.