Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

It's a fairly common complaint with Cobras. It's probably a worn out or
defective shift cable and the ratcheting sound is your gear set being worn
away by insufficient meshing of the shift dog. Prompt repair of the cable
might save the gears. This is not a do it yourself repair.
Jim
wrote in message
oups.com...
Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

On 6 Aug 2006 01:35:28 -0700, wrote:

Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

I had a similar problem with my shifting (not an OMC). The shift linkage
needed adjustment. I let the mechanic at the marina do his thing. Then it
worked fine.
--
******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

John

I HAVE A 6CYLINDER MERCRUISER WITH A ALPHA I/O.
MY BOAT JUST STARTED DOING THE SAME THING THIS WEEK.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT THE CABLES NEED ADJUSTING. NUETRAL IS NOT IN THE
CENTER ANYMORE OF THE CONTROLLER !! ALSO MY IDLE IS A LITTLE TO HIGH.
I GREASED EVERYTHING UP YESTERDAY. IT GOT BETTER BUT I CAN SEE THAT THE
SHIFTER IS OFF A LITTLE BIT. NUETRAL IS NOT IN THE CENTER ANYMORE.
JohnH wrote:
On 6 Aug 2006 01:35:28 -0700, wrote:

Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

I had a similar problem with my shifting (not an OMC). The shift linkage
needed adjustment. I let the mechanic at the marina do his thing. Then it
worked fine.
--
******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

John

On 6 Aug 2006 05:17:08 -0700, "sonofadocker"
wrote:

I HAVE A 6CYLINDER MERCRUISER WITH A ALPHA I/O.
MY BOAT JUST STARTED DOING THE SAME THING THIS WEEK.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT THE CABLES NEED ADJUSTING. NUETRAL IS NOT IN THE
CENTER ANYMORE OF THE CONTROLLER !! ALSO MY IDLE IS A LITTLE TO HIGH.
I GREASED EVERYTHING UP YESTERDAY. IT GOT BETTER BUT I CAN SEE THAT THE
SHIFTER IS OFF A LITTLE BIT. NUETRAL IS NOT IN THE CENTER ANYMORE.
JohnH wrote:
On 6 Aug 2006 01:35:28 -0700, wrote:

Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

I had a similar problem with my shifting (not an OMC). The shift linkage
needed adjustment. I let the mechanic at the marina do his thing. Then it
worked fine.
--
******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

John

Mine is also a Mercruiser Alpha I. Get the linkage adjusted.

PS. Posting in caps is not considered good etiquette, unless you are
meaning to shout out each word.
--
******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

John

Thanks for the info. I'll call around tomorrow and see if anyone has
time to look at it anytime soon. Last month I had a problem I needed
looked at and the earliest any mechanics could get to it was six weeks!

You dont suppose it could just be in need of a simple adjustment do
you? I'm wondering because the problem sort of happened gradually
through the day and I noticed there's much more play in the linkage
while sitting in neutral. It takes alot more effort to shift as well.

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

Jim wrote:
It's a fairly common complaint with Cobras. It's probably a worn out or
defective shift cable and the ratcheting sound is your gear set being worn
away by insufficient meshing of the shift dog. Prompt repair of the cable
might save the gears. This is not a do it yourself repair.
Jim
wrote in message
oups.com...
Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra

"JohnH" wrote in message
...

PS. Posting in caps is not considered good etiquette, unless you are
meaning to shout out each word.

Hey, it's probably the poor guy's first year owning a boat. What do you
expect?

Eisboch

wrote in news:1154853328.908651.242580
@n13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Well I took the boat out on Lake Mead today and had a little trouble
docking due to a new problem:

When shifting from N to FWD there's usually about a two second delay
during which a distinct ratcheting sound is heard, followed by a heavy
clunk as the gear engages. The rest of the time FWD will not engage at
all, and a faster buzz of a ratcheting noise can be heard coming from
the outdrive. Reverse works intermittantly as well but is more
reliable.

This problem just started this morning and along with the huge amount
of traffic at Callville Bay tonight I spent about two hours getting
this boat docked and back on it's trailer.

Anyone else deal with this type of problem on these outdrives?

Greg
'87 Bayliner capri
2.3 I/O OMC Cobra


Try Google sometime.
OMC had a problem with their intermediate shift cable. In fact its been
discussed many times in this news group. The cable was replaced under
warranty way back when. If you don't have the upgraded version, then that
maybe the cause of your problem. The new cable is red and the old cable
was black. There was also a problem with the gear set. See this link for
a full explanation including articles that list lots of shifting problems
and what to do about it.

http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/