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OMC Cobra hard to shift to neutral.

A

aspidal

New member
I have a 1993 seaswirl with a Ford 302 engine model 502APRJVB serial number TO1250965. ESA 987564, VA Ford.

Boat runs fine and shifts into forward no problem. When I try to change to neutral I pull shift lever strait up pause for a second then pull back a couple of times and it goes into neutral. It works but it is dicey when docking.

I found my problem on forums and it pointed to the ESA module. There is only 1 interrupt switch it has continuity. Which the boat running in the driveway activating the switch I can’t hear the engine changing at all. The interrupt wires one side has continuity to the ESA plug pin black and blue (the row of pins with 3 wires the 2 outside wires). The other wire from the interrupt switch has no continuity to any pins going to the ESA. The schematic I have shows that the second pin on the interrupt plug should go to a pin on the ESA? Getting to the wire to test is difficult can I cut the wire at the plug and run a new one to the ESA? Can you give me a part number and price on a new ESA if this doesn’t do anything. Boat has 450 hours on it so I don’t think the ESA is bad but. Can you tell me a way test wiring? Tac shows just under 1000 rpm, I know it is recommended to be around 600 rpm but boat will not stay running.
 
Your idle speed is too high, if it's that high then the ESA may not be able to lower it, get the engine in good enough tune to run at 600 rpm, and re-test it. A Ford 302 in good tune should have no problem running at 600 rpm. Do a tune up and clean and adjust the carb, it ain't rocket science.
I got mine idling at 600 and it goes into neutral with 2 fingers on the control.
Also, a very important part of maintenance on these, is this
when you pull the drive, you must clean out and grease the recess where the shifter bellcrank is. Water can leak in and leave deposits and that will for sure cause stiff shifting. I do pull the drive each fall and since I have been coating that gasket on both sides with OMC gasket sealer, and also the mating surfaces, I have not had any water in that area and the grease I put there is still not milky. When I first got this boat 20 years ago the previous owner never did that and it would not shift to neutral. If you have a 1993, it should have a grease fitting on the side of the pivot housing to grease the shifter shaft, that will help too.
 
I have a 1993 OMC 5.8 Cobra 58 FAPRJVN WITH ESA and EFI
I have replaced the transom cable as well as the two remote control cables. The lower drive has been inspected and clutch dog was changed and lower drive was for rebuild as required.
I am trying to confirm the functionality of the interrupter and over stroke switches. I do not have wiring diagram. I’m showing that as I understand it, the interrupter is normally open, and the overstock is normally closed?? Can you help?
 
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