1989 omc stern drive will not shift into reverse

[drafnson]

when shifting to reveres sometime it will grind, other times it stalls out, and sometime it dose nothing, and once in a while it will engage.
I need help any ideas ? 5.7 L

 

[Master mechanic]

Welcome aboard !

Below is the link to the best write up in the world concerning your drive.

Adjustment and or replacement of the lower cable maybe. Also could be the esa, or a combo of both.

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/kw-shift.html

Read it and re:read it. D/l it and maybe print it out so you can go thru the procedure, or your mechanic can go thru the procedure.

Good luck

 

[Jerryjerry05]

The drive it has a part called the bellcrank. It gets corrosion around the end and it gets real hard to shift. Or the exhaust flappers have fallen into the shift mechanism.Drop the drive, and check. The bellcrank can be cleaned out but needs special tools to install it right. It can be done without the tools but do it the right way. If you try without the tools, then try to count the turns of the shift cable retainer or adjustment spacer. The tools can be bought. Fill out the profile,location?? You might be close to someone who can help. It also has a shift assist modual. That stalls the engine when it binds from the corrosion on the bellcrank, stalling

 

[Master mechanic]

The flappers have nothing to do with shifting.

 

[hordos]

Welcome to the world of OMC. Sounds like what I went through when I first bought my boat. The first thing I recommend is working on the engine so it will idle down to around 650 RPM and run smooth without stalling. Mine took an electronic distributer conversion and some wire changes. Than make sure your ESA is working properly. Have someone shift while you observe the linkage, If it dosn`t engage see if you can assist from the shifting-ESA mechanism. This should indicate what needs adjusted. This is how I figured mine out and am now very happy with my OMC drive, 3 years trouble free, and it`s a 1986 Cobra.