2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

[xtreme995]

hello
i have a 1987 glasstream with a 2.3l omc cobra, i gave $1000 for the boat and it ran great last year minus some minor tune-up problems. this is my first boat i winterized it myself this past year and i'm getting it ready for summer.
is there anything that i need to do to the outdrive as in change gear oil or impellar? i know im going to change the engine oil but what is the best way to go about doing that? i also left gas in the tank over the winter i used some HEET gas treatment in it last year but shoul i go ahead and drain the gas tank as well? thanks in advanced for the help

 

[Don S]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

Head up to the Adults only sticky at the top of the forum. Read the Winterization and Summerization threads, Then you will have an idea of what needs done when and why.

 

[xtreme995]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

thanks man that helped out alot. i hate to be a pita but i don't know a whole lot about outdrives i'm very handy with anything automotive and i know i can do anything that needs to be done to the motor itself, that being said i have never noticed any type of dipstick or drain plugs on my outdrive but i know that it is a omc/cobra is there anything that needs to be done to it that is common to other outdrives that i have read about on the forums here? it worked great last year just a little noisy i figured ther was a way to grease the joints in there but i didn't know what was involved in doing that and i also wasn't for sure if this thing had any type of oil in it. so what i have gathered from the sticky is that there is oil in it and i do have to pull it off to service it. i think i can handle that do you have any helpful tips on doing so with this model of outdrive? and do i need to buy gaskets for anythng? thanks again

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

The lower unit holds High Viscosity gear oil,It should be changed every season.
The drive needs to be pulled from the boat and the U-joints greased and checked as well as the gimble bearing,bellows and engine alignment.
As far as the noisy drive it sounds like its way overdue for service.
There is a grease zerk on the starboard side of the drive at the transom for the bearing.

your REALLY need a manual....The Cobra drives require a certain method for removal,filling gear lube,adjusting shift cable,linkages,ect...
Don't attempt it without the OMC service manual...

This is the manual you need,Not the Seloc or Clymers junk manuals...
Well worth every dime if you plan on working on this yourself!
You can also email the seller and ask if he has one in a more used condition for much less.....These are rare books though..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987...1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

 

[Don S]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

DO NOT
Remove what looks like a fill/vent plug on the Port side of the upper gear case. It is NOT a vent. It holds a SS wear plate inside the housing.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

DO NOT
Remove what looks like a fill/vent plug on the Port side of the upper gear case. It is NOT a vent. It holds a SS wear plate inside the housing.

AMEN to that Don......How many times a year do we hear of that problem?...

 

[xtreme995]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

ok i'll pull it but get the service manual first thanks for all of the helpful information. as far as the motor is concerned i can do anything to it but the outdrives are a totally different world. you guys are great as most people are on other forums thank again

 

[danond]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

Outdrives are not complicated to maintain but they do need their own special treatment. Follow the manual and you'll get into it pretty quickly.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

The Cobra has one good point....The impeller is easy to replace compared to most other drives...

 

[xtreme995]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

yep i pulled the outdrive today that was easy and put an impellar in that was real simple 6 bolts i think, and six bolts to pull the outdrive not counting the trim actuators. i'm going to change the gear oil tommorrow and now ive found out im going to have to replace the ujoint bellows and gimble bearing. but it seems this outdrive is pretty simple and straight forward to maintain now as far as rebuilding it is concerned that may be a totally different story. thanks for the info

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

Drop the gear oil and look for signs of water...you may have got lucky and the bellows failed without getting water in the drive.The U-joints,gimble bearing and all will still need replaced.
The manual will step you through it all..

Always use new plastic washers on the drain and fill plugs on the lower unit..
They went up to 89 cents each at my local dealer but well worth it.I buy them by the bag...

 

[xtreme995]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

ok man i will i pulled the top plate off of the out drive. the plate that has the dipstick in it and checked out the oil it looked clean and new if im right on this one shouldn't water float on top of that gear oil especially with all of the emulsifiers they put in that oil. i don't guess it matters to much if that oil is no good im replacing it tommorrow anyway but yeah i hope it doesn't have any water in it anyway that would suck

 

[danond]

Re: 2.3 liter omc/cobra questions

Drain it. That's how you'll find the water. The dipstick won't tell you.