www.iFourWinns.com

Hi everybody;

I need help with my just purchased 160 fredoom with a 3.0 OMC cobra, My question is regarding Shifting, It goes into forward with no problem, I even wakeboard yesterday no problem, but the reverse is not engaging. Any tips. Thank you.

There is more than likely some adjustments that can be made at the shifter plate in the engin compartment. You should get a manual. I am sure that LouC will have soem better input shortly.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Yep, shift adjustment, may need some at the drive and possibly at the shifter.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Ah yes the famous Cobra shifting problems, I had a problem with mine when I first got it too, what was happening was that it would shift into gear OK but would not come out of gear into neutral. I took it to a good OMC mechanic 4 years ago and its been shifting fine ever since. You could have a problem with the transom shift cable, ESA system, the bellcrank in the pivot housing and the shift rod height adjustment. The best thing you can do is find a good OMC mechanic, the second best thing is to look at the Stuart Hastings site on Cobra issues. His website tells you how to check the adjustment on the cable.
Here's what I do to mine each season: I remove the drive in the fall to check the bellows, gimble bearing and u-joints. For instructions on how to remove, see
http://www.crowleymarine.com
look in product support under OMC Cobra drives. They also have to proper procedure to fill the drive with oil, it MUST be followed or else the drive can be ruined!
Anyway once you remove it, you will see a linkage that comes out of the right side of the pivot housing, this is the shift linkage. You need to clean out the area around the bellcrank that is there and pack that area with OMC triple guard grease because if the gasket leaks just a bit, there will be crud in there that prevents the bellcrank from moving smoothly.
Also make sure the idle is low enough (500-600 in gear in the water) to allow easy shifting. When you shift to neutral you should feel the engine slow down, thats the ESA system allowing the gear to release. Your problem is not that, rather not going into gear. Does it grind or just not go in?

BTW don't let anyone tell you these drives are bad, the problem is that there are not a lot of mechanics that know how to set them up and some parts are getting to be hard to find, they were only made from 86-93. Mine is 20 years old, has been used in salt water at least 8 seasons, and shifts with 2 fingers, like it's supposed to.

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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

Thank you everybody, great info.

Thank you LouC, the idle is low and the engine slow down in neutral, the gears just not go in?

If the idle is low and it slows when shifting to neutral, sounds like the ESA is working. If the drive will not go into reverse at all, that sounds more like a problem with one of these things: the shift control on the boat, the transom shift cable and its adjustment, the bellcrank in the pivot housing, or the shift lever on the lower unit (adjustment).
These units are not easy for a beginner to set up. Espcially if you have never worked on a sterndrive before. So that is why I say it's best to find a good mechanic who went to the OMC schools and knows them. The difference in mine was dramatic. I have been able to keep it working this way with just a little maintenance each year.

_________________
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