You may have a couple of different problems here, OMC Cobra right? Well the Cobra has a shift system that uses a dog clutch like a Merc Alpha (and all outboards) and this system needs to have the following for it to shift right: 1) a transom shift cable in good shape and adjustment 2) the bellcrank in the pivot housing must not have a build up of deposits (mineral or salt from water getting in there) for it to move properly. 3) the ESA system, which lowers the engine idle when you shift from in gear to neutral, must be functioning. 4) the engine must be in good enough tune, to idle smoothly at 600 rpm in gear, in the water.
Also your control may be worn out, or may need to be taken apart and greased for it to work smoothly. My original OMC control (23 years old) still works fine, the cable is over 10 years old and it still shifts well. Cobras are not easy to set up with respect to the shift linkage, and if it jumps out of gear, you will wear out the dog clutch and repairing that is very expensive. My best advice is find a good OMC mechanic and have them go through it. I did this with mine, it would shift OK into gear, but not neutral. I took it to a good OMC shop in the next town and they got it shifting great, that was 7 years ago and all I have done each year is clean out the area around the bellcrank, grease all the shift cable pivot points, and keep the engine idle at no more than 600. Shifts like a new boat.
If you want understand how it works, try to find a good OMC OE shop manual, and look at the Stuart Hastings website on the Cobra....
_________________ 88 Four Winns 200 Horizon 4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl 2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5 2008 Walker Bay 8
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II
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