I have a 1986 or 1987 4.3L OMC drive. The shifting in my boat was stiff so last year I replaced the shift control device and two cables. The shifting remained stiff. I then realized that the resistance was coming from either the transmission or the remaining cable that goes from a shift mechanism by the engine to the gear box. That cable looked close to impossible to replace so I gave up on improving things. Now I started the boat up last week, and the end of the lower cable broke off that connects to the shift box located beside the engine. I'm thinking that I could jerry-rig the cable end with a new fitting much more easily than replacing the cable, however replacing the cable might resolve the resistance. I'm also worried that I would be out in the lake and the cable would break at the other end and leave me stranded. There isn't hardly any room down under the engine to even see where that cable ends, let alone get to it. Does anyone know what is involved in replacing that cable? Does anyone have an idea if the cable is even the problem, or if the gearbox might have the resistance in it? Does the engine have to be pulled or lower unit removed to get to the cable end? Thanks for the help!