Yamaha sterndrive shift problem

[mhammock]

I am going to try to make a log story short. I took my boat to the lake the saturday before memorial day. I was backing away from the boat ramp when I switched from reverse to forward and I noticed that it had alot of tension on it and it would not kick into drive. So I got it back on the trailer and took it to a local marina to get repaired. They guy there said that someone would look at at the following week. At the end of the following week I called him and he said he had not gotten to it yet, so another week went by and still no sign of what was wrong. After about the 5th week...I would get the story "there back there now working on it we will call you back" On week six I got to talk to the owner and he said it was the control cable....(the cable that goes from the top of engine to the outdrive) He said because I have a Yamaha outdrive the part had to come from yamaha...he said it would cost about 80.00 dollars. I told him to proceed with the repair. On week 7 I called back thinking he had to be done. I finally got to talk to him and he said he had to go to the coast to work on a boat. I asked him what am I suppose to do? He boldly to me that I could come get my GD boat and he would throw the parts in my truck. I went to the marina to get my boat to much my suprise the outdrive was off, the carb was off, and the old cable was still on the boat!!! I took the boat, outdrive, carb and the new cable which he charged me 179.00 for home, I got my dad to help me replace the cable, the boat shifted great without the outdrive on nice and smooth. We checked the linkage in the outdrive and it switches from foward,neutral,reverse great. We reattached the outdrive with a new outdrive gasket tighten all 6 bolts and tested it agian this time it would shift smooth from neutral to reverse but when we tried to shift from neutral to drive it was stiff agian...we loosened the nuts on the outdrive and take the presure off it will shift fine. I have taken the outdrive off 10 times today and put it back on with no luck. I dont know what I am missing....
1993 Chaperral
L4 3.0L
Yamaha outdrive.

 

[mhammock]

Re: When Shifting In Drive Has Alot Of Tension...help!!!!

Re: When Shifting In Drive Has Alot Of Tension...help!!!!

also where in the world can I get a service manual for this boat?

 

[Don S]

Re: When Shifting In Drive Has Alot Of Tension...help!!!!

Re: When Shifting In Drive Has Alot Of Tension...help!!!!

Hopefully Capt Ken will see this thread. Might want to edit the thread title to something like "Yamaha sterndrive shift problem"
He's about the only one around that knows anything about the Yam, outdrives.

 

[cool hand]

Re: When Shifting In Drive Has Alot Of Tension...help!!!!

Re: When Shifting In Drive Has Alot Of Tension...help!!!!

Had this same cable break on me on vacation just a few weeks ago. 80 bucks sounds good for the cable. Didn't do the work myself, so I'm no help there, but I highly recommend Casey's Cove for Yamaha sterndrive work if your around Northeast Indiana. Paid 310 bucks and they had it ready for me in 24 hours. Good luck.

 

[got burnt]

Re: Yamaha sterndrive shift problem

i had this problem on my yamaha l4 leg exact syptoms u are talking about. Could not seem to get anyone to help me. I am an automotive tech and it had me stumped. but after having leg off like 20 times, I finaly decided to split the stern drive to access that shift fork on the drive side to see if I could check the bushings on it to see if corroded even though I could move it freely by hand when leg was off. You know I found corrosion in there I cleaned it all up as best I could and reassembled and retested it shifted like butter. I am sure u have the same problem.