Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

[Boats-A-lots]

Three yrs ago I had my lower cable replaced in my 89 4.3 cobra. When I picked the boat up from the shop they said "shifts like new". I didn't use the boat for about 4 months, and when I did it wasn't any better in shifting. The shop where I had it replaced went out of biz, so I couldn't take it back there.

Fast forward 3 yrs, the shifting became harder and harder til a few weeks ago no reverse, and wouldn't come out of forward. This time I was going to fix it myself. The cable broke when I unhooked it and gave it a tug. Uh huh.. humm. I took off the out drive and what was left of the cable would move with ease.

It took a rubber hammer and wood block (tapping lighting but firm) to get the shift rod to move up or down. I WD-40 it and it moved easier. After it sitting for a couple of hours it would freeze up again. (waiting for my cable to get here). For 2 days, this has been going on. It would be so hard to push up or down after sitting a few hours. Last night I put lower gear lube on the shaft and let it pool up at the base where it goes into the seal. This morning, the shift rod moved with ease.

I think maybe I better replace the seal on it as I don't want water getting past the seal. (so far that hasn't happened).

Here's my question! Can the shift rod and seal housing be remove (after removing the anode) or do I have to take the lower unit apart?

Also, I wonder how many others this happens to thinking the cable is binding, or out of adjustment. Since the cable moves so freely with the out drive off, there was no other explanation why it shifted so hard. I read these is an upgrade on the shifter detent, that is suppose to help in shifting hard.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Yea the lower unit has to be taken apart to change the shift rod. There is a company in Canada I forget the name but they do drive service through the mail and offer an upgrade for the shift rod. Im not too sure how hard it would be to do it yourself.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Yea the lower unit has to be taken apart to change the shift rod. There is a company in Canada I forget the name but they do drive service through the mail and offer an upgrade for the shift rod. Im not too sure how hard it would be to do it yourself.

I think the cable is the limit of my comfort zone, but will try that place first. (never know until you try) Thanks. Here is yet another thing that can cause hard shifting..

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

You only have to separate the lower from the upper. Then the shift rod simply unscrews. First thing you do is remove the 6 bolts that hold the cover on, and get it free from the gear housing. Slide the cover up on the shift shaft, then turn the shaft counter clockwise till it comes out. It is pretty easy to do. Then remove the shaft from the cover. There are actually two seals for the shaft. One is the wiper that you already have seen. The other is an O-ring. This is the fattest little oring you will probably ever see, and is a bugger to replace. Just be sure to not use anything sharp replacing it so you dont nick it. The wiper is pretty easy, soak it in some warm water first to soften it up. Then to reinstall the shaft in the cover, grease the threads up and screw it in to the cover. The seals will act like nuts and pull the shaft in. Once it is clear of the seals you can slide it the rest of the way. This should take no more than 30 minutes to do. There is a dimension spec for the shift rod height. I believe it is in Stuarts write up. Really pretty simple to do once you get in there.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

You only have to separate the lower from the upper. Then the shift rod simply unscrews. First thing you do is remove the 6 bolts that hold the cover on, and get it free from the gear housing. Slide the cover up on the shift shaft, then turn the shaft counter clockwise till it comes out. It is pretty easy to do. Then remove the shaft from the cover. There are actually two seals for the shaft. One is the wiper that you already have seen. The other is an O-ring. This is the fattest little oring you will probably ever see, and is a bugger to replace. Just be sure to not use anything sharp replacing it so you dont nick it. The wiper is pretty easy, soak it in some warm water first to soften it up. Then to reinstall the shaft in the cover, grease the threads up and screw it in to the cover. The seals will act like nuts and pull the shaft in. Once it is clear of the seals you can slide it the rest of the way. This should take no more than 30 minutes to do. There is a dimension spec for the shift rod height. I believe it is in Stuarts write up. Really pretty simple to do once you get in there.

Idlespeedonly, THANK YOU for this info. No where could I find just replacing the rod and housing seal. Everything I read started with removing the water pump, and even more steps. I got the cable in today, and will start on this tomorrow. Since Salem Oregon (where I live) is a mail order town, I will search for parts and get them ordered.

Again, and again.. thank you so much!!

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

My shifter rod, cover assembly, wiper, and lower seal appear to be pressed on. Is this right? When I look up parts, they are 3 parts not one. Do I just buy a new cover, and is the seal and wiper already pressed in it? There was a little junk, and some salt crystals on it. (I use this boat crabbing and off shore fishing.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.


Item 46 and 47 are what you are looking to replace. They will most likely come in a complete seal kit. The only thing pressed in is the bronze bushing.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

View attachment 160815
Item 46 and 47 are what you are looking to replace. They will most likely come in a complete seal kit. The only thing pressed in is the bronze bushing.

Idlespeedonly, even with a magnifying glass I couldn't see what those numbers were. Is it the cover, and wiper? (Thank you for the reply, this thing is fun to work on when you get the help from others on this site). There is great satisfaction to be able to say "I did this" with a little help from my friends"

 

[Levinz11]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

You can find that diagram here...http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=cimbeg1rd69h65o9dl5fbatkg7&catalog_id=0&siteid=1

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

You can find that diagram here...http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=cimbeg1rd69h65o9dl5fbatkg7&catalog_id=0&siteid=1

Thanks for the info, but I get lost on the numbers. I have a 1989 4.3 cobra Seaswirl Sierra cuddy. On the outdrive the mod # is 985685 4.3 I can't find a reference to match up numbers. Also, I can't find the drive shaft O rings.. These two. The bottom one seems to be thicker? The ones I did find reads 3 parts. Even in my worthless Clymer cobra book it shows only 2.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Thanks for the info, but I get lost on the numbers. I have a 1989 4.3 cobra Seaswirl Sierra cuddy. On the outdrive the mod # is 985685 4.3 I can't find a reference to match up numbers. Also, I can't find the drive shaft O rings.. These two. The bottom one seems to be thicker? The ones I did find reads 3 parts. Even in my worthless Clymer cobra book it shows only 2.

I've called 3 shops, and been on countless webpages, they all same the same thing, or read the same. "Three O rings are used here, all the same size". Clearly you can see in this picture of my unit, there are only 2 O rings, and one of them is thicker then the other. Anyone ever see this? Why is mine different then what shops say, or webpages read.

(even Clymer photo shows only 2 here like I have)

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Wow boats alot you have that rare cobra outdrive you will never find parts for that one. Honestly, yours has three also. Ya gotta look alittle closer. yours will look like this once you get the aluminum housing off that is held on by the 5 (i think) nuts.[ And all three rings are the same size.ATTACH=CONFIG]160978[/ATTACH]

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Wow boats alot you have that rare cobra outdrive you will never find parts for that one. Honestly, yours has three also. Ya gotta look alittle closer. yours will look like this once you get the aluminum housing off that is held on by the 5 (i think) nuts.[ And all three rings are the same size.ATTACH=CONFIG]160978[/ATTACH]

Damn, that crow tastes like chicken.. ha ha. Okay, after closer inspection (and turning the page on the Clymer manual AND seeing your pic here) I can see there are 3 O rings. BUT, I didn't take off my housing (and didn't plan on it, but I will now) You can see in this pic what happened. The metal band had slipped up smashing the 1 O ring and expanding the the other. Iam assuming once I get this apart, I can slide down that metal band so there is more room for the 1 O ring.

Thanks, for the pic showing the O rings.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Nope. You need to replace that part. It is unrepairable. That metal band isnt supposed to move.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Nope. You need to replace that part. It is unrepairable. That metal band isnt supposed to move.

Yup.. was just out in the shop looking at it.. and I can see it's not suppose to move.. BUT.. there are at least 2 (maybe 3) that look the same but have different part numbers.. Um.. now what? HOw do I find my correct part number? (Thanks again idlespeedonly).. your saving me here..

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

What site are you seeing different part numbers? as far as I know there should only be one.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

What site are you seeing different part numbers? as far as I know there should only be one.

I was looking on Ebay, and there are 3 different numbers, however.. looking on this website (yet another number, but it replaces the OME number.

http://www.boatparts.ca/omc-cobra-parts/lower_drive_shaft_housing.html

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

Here's one number.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/280546256225?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

and here's another.. they look the same to me. http://www.ebay.com/itm/380393400671?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

The 984462 is the one you need. Make sure you get one with the needle bearings. I think the other one on ebay is for the king cobra.

 

[Boats-A-lots]

Re: Shift rod over looked for shifting problems.

The 984462 is the one you need. Make sure you get one with the needle bearings. I think the other one on ebay is for the king cobra.

Idlespeedonly, I feel you have a vestment in this boat of mine. Totally thankful for your replies. I would be lost in a sea of numbers and parts. Thank you, thank you!!!