OMC Cobra grinds when shifting?

Question

It doesn't always grind but most of the time it doses.Is this normal for omc it has done this since i owned it

Answer 1

You also should check the RPM,s at Idle it may be a little High.

Answer 2

Have you checked the shift interrupter ?.

This is a common fault causing the dog clutches to bounce.

You will find the interrupter on the side of the engine where the gearshift cables are connected.

The interrupter momentarily cuts the ignition whilst selecting gear.

Answer 3

It sounds like you don't have the out drive lowered all the way to engage the output teeth. Check to make sure there are no obstructions. (rope, debris, flotsam, or jetsam)

Answer 4

A cobra should not grind when you shift it.  It uses a friction assembley on a cam to engage a forward and reverse gear.  What you are hearing may be a vibration from your drive, but it is hard to say without hearing it in person.  Try setting nominal neutral by taking off the plastic cover on the drive, disconnecting the shift cable, and manually shifting the drive.  This can be done out of the water wth the boat off.  Just move the shift mechanism until it cicks into neutral, then set the controls to neutral and reconnect the cable to the drive.  You can take the drive off your boat and disassemble the upper portion for inspection, but I would not suggest it, because the drive has many small shims and seals that are easily damaged.  If I were you, I would just take the drive off and take it to a marine shop you trust, have them drain the gearcase, pressure and vacuum test it, and check the clutch assembly, then fill it with new gearcase oil.  If they tell you that it didn't hold pressure or vacuum, have them show you, as these tests only take about ten minutes each.  The drive should hold 20 psi and 20 in./Hg for ten minutes.  A drop of just a couple psi or in./Hg is nothing to worry about.  If they find a problem with your clutch assembly, then you will have to take their word for it.