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King Cobra Shift questions

Discussion Forum at MarineEngine.com » OMC Sterndrive and Inboard » King Cobra Shift questions « Previous Next »

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travis kenyon
New member
Username: azboater

Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 07:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

I have had this boat for several years now with no issues at all. I have a 91 King Cobra with the HO350 Omc. From all the reading I've done it seems to be the cone type (rounded bulge at the top). It seems to be getting harder and stiffer to shift from gear (forward or reverse) back into netural. It goes into gear both directions with not that much effort.

I disconnected the lower cable at the engine and the shifter works smooth so I know its not that end. Any ideas? I've also read someplace that the lower cable should have been changed to a red one? Mine is black. Any thoughts please help!
Thanks
travis
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Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat

Post Number: 280
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

red vs. black cable was regular Cobra, not KC it does however sound like you have a lower cable issue or linkage problem
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travis kenyon
New member
Username: azboater

Post Number: 2
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 11:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Can I replace the lower cable without removing the drive? It looks as though it is behind a plastic cover on the port side of the drive, but the small bolts to the cover are behind the large drive bolts.
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Bud Fox
Member
Username: manipulator

Post Number: 73
Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 01:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

My Dad has a 1989 King Cobra 460HP Ford. Has the red cables but I guess that don't matter as Hy Stat implies its an Cobra issue not a King Cobra. Anyway, same problem as yours, coming out of gear is getting harder to do.
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Bob Hill
Advanced Member
Username: boatin_bob

Post Number: 555
Registered: 07-2006


Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 01:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

I can't answer your question but this would be the perfect book for you if you are going to attempt your own maint

http://cgi.ebay.ca/1991-OMC-KING-COBRA-ENGINE-STERN-DRIVE-SERVICE-MANUAL_W0QQite mZ200197695524QQihZ010QQcategoryZ26453QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262#e bayphotohosting
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travis kenyon
New member
Username: azboater

Post Number: 3
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 01:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

thanks for the link, i just got it. In the meen time if anyone still has any ideas or hints I'm open to all! I'm so glad for this forum. thank you.
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Bob Hill
Advanced Member
Username: boatin_bob

Post Number: 556
Registered: 07-2006


Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 02:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

A couple of things come to mind, first what is your RPM's at idle? If too high it will cause shifting problems, you want them down around 550-600. Second is I'm pretty sure you still have an ESA (Electronic Shift Asist) however I think it's part of the ECM module now and still works with an interupter switch. Not having a manual I can't guide you to it's location but maybe you can see a switch near where you disconnected the shift cable previously. This switch along with the associated electronics are there to make shifting out of gear in neutral easier by playing with the ignition during shifting.
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travis kenyon
Member
Username: azboater

Post Number: 4
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 02:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Ya I noticed a rocker switch where the two cables come together so that must be the interupter but the shifting feels the same with the engine on or off is that normal? I'll check the idol next and see how low it is or if I can turn it down a bit more. Could it even be the cable if it shifts into forwar/reverse fine but not back into N?
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Bob Hill
Advanced Member
Username: boatin_bob

Post Number: 557
Registered: 07-2006


Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 03:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

For sure it could be the cable but like I said it could be the ESA part as well. It's always tougher to go back into neutral because the gears are locked in place. The ESA affects the ignition (not sure exactly how on the King Cobra with cone clutch) but on the others it stumbles the ignition momentarily which drops the RPM"s which takes the load off the gears and they separate much easier. (another good reason to get that book) This test is used for the older Cobra's but I don't see why it wouldn't work for you, while at idle in neutral go ahead and push that switch and see if anything happens, on the older ones it would cause the engine to stumble and RPM's would drop from 600 down to 400, good test to see if the electronic part was working, once you released the switch normal RPM's would resume.
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Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat

Post Number: 281
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 04:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

I gotta ask for your honest opinion on something here, Bob (and anyone else)...What am I doing wrong on eBay? I have the same manual listed here for much less $ (others have them too for far less): http://cgi.ebay.ca/OMC-Cobra-Stern-Drive-Manual-OEM-RGD-Models_W0QQitemZ13021898 4537QQihZ003QQcategoryZ26453QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638 Q2em118Q2el1247
I even put the correct YEAR on mine.....that guy says 91 but you can see its a 1990 manual in the pic... duh...
I cannot get any bids, offers, inquiries or nuthin!
what am I doing wrong? Can searches from US ebay.COM not find my stuff? (I am listing on .ca)
Do people think my stuff will be difficult to ship from Canada? or take too long (maybe valid point)
Is my price too LOW?
not trying to sell anything here, just real curious why everyone seems to jump to that dude that is selling manuals for 3 times the going rate- like his seller status maybe somehow makes his goods come up first or something...maybe my ads are too needy sounding? If anyone has any input please share - I wont take offense- I have shoulders of a guppy and the skin of an Armadillo :-)
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Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat

Post Number: 282
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 04:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

I dont think cone clutch drives used an ESA, just a simple shift assist switch like a merc.
EDIT - yep just looked it up - no ESA.
you have to pull the drive to do lower shift cable, and if you are asking, you haven't had it off in a while, so you also need to do gimbal bearing, bellows, grease the u joint, and check alignment, etc...
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Bob Hill
Advanced Member
Username: boatin_bob

Post Number: 558
Registered: 07-2006


Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 04:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Sorry Hy Stat...I didn't see yours. I have a generic OMC search built that gives me everything within Canada first and then US and then International....yours didn't come up so then I went right to ebay home page and put in OMC Cobra Stern Drive and still yours didn't turn up???? I am certain though in the past I have seen some of your stuff (older OMC parts) up for sale so I don't know but something is wrong! I wasn't trying to tick you off although in this case your manual isn't the one that Travis needs as there is one just for the 350/454 King Cobra
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travis kenyon
Member
Username: azboater

Post Number: 5
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 06:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

I'm looking forward to a real book rather than that sealoc one i have, it doesnt help me much. I will hook it up and try to lower the idol first and see if that helps. I know enough that if I pull the drive to do the usual things while in it. Just never pulled one so not sure I have the skills and know how to try it. Sure hate to put it back in the water with a large hole where my outdrive once was! What does a simple shift assist do? I have a black rocker switch with two wires going to it. Should I move that while its running and see what it does? what should it do?
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Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat

Post Number: 283
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 07:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Thanks Bob - that was exactly the info i was looking for- I'm going to have to get creative with searchwords I guess. that book I have listed is the same OMC part number as the other link and it does cover King Cobra, but it's 1990 - I DO have a 91 manual. I also have the lower shift cable adjustment video for Cobra- not sure if I have the King Cobra video - but these videos are very well done.
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Bob Hill
Advanced Member
Username: boatin_bob

Post Number: 560
Registered: 07-2006


Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 09:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Hy Stat...I finally figured out what was different with yours in my search. Your stuff all falls into an eBay store so my search brings up anything it finds in an ebay store in a separate category compared to just joe blow listing something plus it looks like some your stuff like this manual is "buy it now" so no opportunity to put in a bid.
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Bob Hill
Advanced Member
Username: boatin_bob

Post Number: 561
Registered: 07-2006


Posted on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 09:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Trevor...sorry for the confusion, guess i was thinking it was more along the lines of the infamous OMC Spitfire ignition where the ESA was built into the module. I would still go ahead and try the switch, it won't hurt anything but if you don't notice any change then that could be a problem. I know with the Mercs if you left the switch engaged to long you could stall them.
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Pat Chislett
Member
Username: pat_the_pom

Post Number: 30
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 01:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Hi Stat, Is there any reason why you do not ship to the Uk on ebay? Pat
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Hy Stat
Advanced Member
Username: hystat

Post Number: 285
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 03:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

I'll ship anywhere.... just figured there's 100 times as many recreational boats in the USA as the rest of the world but maybe I'll have to think outside the box :-)
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Pat Chislett
Member
Username: pat_the_pom

Post Number: 31
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 03:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP

Sta, Im sure there are, but there is also a lot in the UK. It is virtually impossible to get any thing for OMC in the UK now and there must be hundreds of people like me that get annoyed at the over inflated prices that we have to pay here. Thats if you can get it at all. You can usually expect to pay the same in £'s as you pay in $'s. Even with shipping it works out cheaper to buy from the States or Canada. Regards Pat

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