www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 1988 vista 245 which will not go into reverse! The shifter moves and the cable pushed the shifter on the engine but it will not go into gear. Any thoughts?

pull cover on outdrive and look at that end of shift cable. Any obstructions? if you disconnect the cable can you shift drive into forward/reverse by hand?

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

if it's an 88..gotta be OMC or Merc...if OMC do a search on the Stuart Hastings webpage on curing Cobra shift problems...could be a bad lower shift cable...drive's gotta come off to check it...Merc..never had one so I can't say but just about any decent marine mechanic will be able to fix it right....

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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

I was having occasional reverse problems last season and when I pulled the cover on the outdrive it was packed with all sorts of crap.

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2005 Vista 268 "ALTEAN"

If it is a Cobra...there are a number of problems that can contribute...the cable may be corroded inside..not moving back and forth smoothly....and there is a bellcrank in the transom mount (pivot housing) that has to move back and forth smoothly and for it's full stroke...sometimes if the gasket between the drive and the pivot housing leaks a little water a lot of crud builds up behind the bellcrank and prevents it from moving enough to engage the gears...or the sliding dog clutch with the foward or reverse gear as it actually works...so like I said the drive has to come off and investigate...

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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

The mechanic dropped the out drive and it was caked up with salt. Cleaned it out and it is now shifting like it should.
Thanks for all the help