1990 omc cobra drain/fill/dipstick seals?

[1990 Fourwinns 220H]

Hi guys, so im about to change my gear lube on my outdrive (first time, boats new to me). I found the fill procedure on this site (thanks!). My question is, on my outdrive all i have behind my drain, fill, and dipstick screws are white plastic washers. I read that people are also using a fibrous washer. Am i missing those? Are they used with the plastic washers? Thanks!

 

[Lou C]

White plastic washers are what is used, no fibrous washers in addition.

 

[1990 Fourwinns 220H]

oh ok thanks for the quick response!

 

[HT32BSX115]

oh ok thanks for the quick response!

Howdy,

And Welcome aboard!

Just to be clear, for any Dog-Clutch Cobra, (and for anyone else viewing this thread)

Fill from the FILL-PORT (the middle one between the drain and the top of the drive) , with the dipstick screwed out "sitting" on top of it's threads (to allow for initially, a slight "over-fill")

:deadhorse: Beating this nearly dead horse in the hopes of preventing anyone else from destroying their drive!!

(My previously installed OMG King Kobra was destroyed TWICE by 2 different "Dealers" who filled it WRONG!!!!!)


Cheers,

Rick

 

[Lou C]

lol Rick when I got mine back in 2002 all I had at first was the owner/operators manual and always did it the way they said, never had a problem. 30 years old same drive!

 

[JJBoatr]

I don’t think that horse will ever die. I just found out my brother has been filling his cobra from the bottom for the last 12 years. I have no idea how he didn’t get an air bubble, maybe because his trailer is so low he can’t put the drive down all the way. He didn’t believe me at first then I showed him in my factory service manual, he was beside himself. He got lucky, somehow.

 

[HT32BSX115]

He didn’t believe me at first then I showed him in my factory service manual, he was beside himself. He got lucky, somehow.

He was VERY lucky!

My brother bought my 1987 FourWinns 211 Liberator new with the OMG 460 King Kobra and ran it for about 15 years before he took it to a "Dealer" for "Service".

They filled it like a Mercruiser, and when he went to the lake imediately after, it only made it about halfway around the lake before it simply slowed down and stopped, drive seized. When he looked at the back, the drive was steaming and the engine wouldn't even crank.

The Dealer replaced the drive.

A couple years later a different dealer did the same thing, the ("new") drive seized again and this dealer needed a little legal persuasion but ended up replacing the drive with only a threat of legal action.

This by the way, could be problematic since there's a finite number of these big "Dog" King Cobras left and certain hard internal parts are NLA. Blow one up and you may be "Dead" in the water (PUN INTENDED!!)

Countless people here on iBoats have had similar experiences. Some people swear that it's "OK" to fill it from the bottom until it comes out of the "FILL" port, close the bottom drain, and continue filling from "FILL" port (and there's more than one website that claims the same thing)

Maybe that's ok. I would sure want to see a cut-a-way view to verify that it's safe though.

But since we can't see inside, I think we're all "SAFE" just following the OEM OMC manual procedure when filling a dog-clutch Cobra. AND THIS MEANS AN OEM MANUAL!!!! NOT a Seloc or Clymer since they usually cover all three drive models, it's possible to choose the wrong procedure for a Dog and destroy it.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[JJBoatr]

He was VERY lucky!

My brother bought my 1987 FourWinns 211 Liberator new with the OMG 460 King Kobra and ran it for about 15 years before he took it to a "Dealer" for "Service".

They filled it like a Mercruiser, and when he went to the lake imediately after, it only made it about halfway around the lake before it simply slowed down and stopped, drive seized. When he looked at the back, the drive was steaming and the engine wouldn't even crank.

The Dealer replaced the drive.

A couple years later a different dealer did the same thing, the ("new") drive seized again and this dealer needed a little legal persuasion but ended up replacing the drive with only a threat of legal action.

This by the way, could be problematic since there's a finite number of these big "Dog" King Cobras left and certain hard internal parts are NLA. Blow one up and you may be "Dead" in the water (PUN INTENDED!!)

Countless people here on iBoats have had similar experiences. Some people swear that it's "OK" to fill it from the bottom until it comes out of the "FILL" port, close the bottom drain, and continue filling from "FILL" port (and there's more than one website that claims the same thing)

Maybe that's ok. I would sure want to see a cut-a-way view to verify that it's safe though.

But since we can't see inside, I think we're all "SAFE" just following the OEM OMC manual procedure when filling a dog-clutch Cobra. AND THIS MEANS AN OEM MANUAL!!!! NOT a Seloc or Clymer since they usually cover all three drive models, it's possible to choose the wrong procedure for a Dog and destroy it.

Cheers,

Rick

I’ve seen that other fill method mentioned also but like you I don’t use it because I don’t know exactly how the oil flows from the lower. I know it’s through the driveshaft housing but I have no idea where the pockets are in the lower that can trap air.

Cant even imagine going through what your brother did with his drive. Given the scarcity of King Cobras now days I don’t blame you for converting the boat to a Bravo.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Cant even imagine going through what your brother did with his drive. Given the scarcity of King Cobras now days I don’t blame you for converting the boat to a Bravo.

Well, you're right. When I did my swap, I went looking for exhaust manifolds and NONE were available except, Doug Russel had 2 ($1600 EACH!!!) There was also a couple of companies that made "one-off" stainless steel welded (jacketed) manifolds but they were somewhere north of $3000!

Later, someone started making adapters that would allow the use of available 454/502 manifolds but I hear they were problematic and scarce.........Just checked "Manifold Warehouse" and they appear to still offer a kit using adapters and 454 manifolds but when you try to add them to the "cart" nothing happens!! I suspect you still cannot buy manifolds!!

I also looked for couplers and not only NONE were available but no one was even going to make them! I think Sierra might be supplying a coupler now.

There's a couple of hard parts inside a (460) King Cobra drive that if you want them, you either have to scrounge used parts or have them made by a machine shop!

That was about 13 years ago. I was worried I would be stuck when I happened to be looking at Craigslist one day and saw a guy with a wind damaged 98 24ft Bayliner + 454/Bravo III wanting to sell or part out so I gave him a call!

The rest is history!

I really "Lucked-Out" ($5k for a complete engine/drive/transom, boat electrical harness, steering cable, controls gages, etc etc) A Merc dealer told me they would have sold me a similar set up for $10000 + installation! I installed it myself

I Now have a 1987 FourWinns 211 that is worth more parted out than if I leave the 454/Bravo III installed!!! Go figure!!


Cheers,

Rick