How to remove the shift cable from omc out-drive?

Question

How to remove the shift cable from omc out-drive?

Answer 1

I assume that you have a "Cobra Drive".  Put the gearshift in neutral if possible.  Inside the boat on the side of the engine there is a bracket.  It has two cables attached.  One is the cable from the helm.  Leave it alone.  Remove the other cable.    Remove the slide by taking the set s***w loose and pulling the cable out.  On the outside of the boat.  The Drive must be removed from the gimble housing, this is done by removing the 6-nuts that hold the drive on.   It's a good idea to put a board under the skeg to help support the drive.  Pull against the drive and it should slide back to you.  note that the intermediate shaft and universal joint slides out.   Keep the shaft from flopping around to much.  Once the drive is completely free from the boat.  Sit it near by, prefirably in the vertical position, this might require a little rigging.   Now looking at the gimble housing, You will see the shift slide.  It has a large cap s***w in the end. remove the s***w.  This releases the threaded connector.  unscrew it counter clock wise, then the slide pulls off farward.  This exposes the shift cable .   You will note that the new cable has a threaded portion that screws into the gimble housing.  Simple unscrew the cable and pull it out.  When you install the new cable simmply reverse the removal....... Now the hard part.  when the new cable is installed, the slide must aline with the shift rod on the drive, and the cable must aline at the motor.  There is a special tool to help aline this cam.  If you don't have this tool you can do it by careful observation of the location of the shift cam as you remove the drive, and pur it back at that position.  I hope this is clear enough.  Good luck.