83 OMC Stringer 3.0 ball gear replacement

[flockshot]

Is it ok to replace ball gears without new seals (if seals are not currently leaking)? Can I replace ball gears without separating outdrive from upper housing?

 

[cr2k]

Re: 83 OMC Stringer 3.0 ball gear replacement

Well I guess you could, but I would bet the old seals will start leaking right away. Why not reseal the upper too?

 

[flockshot]

Re: 83 OMC Stringer 3.0 ball gear replacement

My thought was to try and replace the ball gears without separating the lower unit from the boat. I am sure that I cannot replace the seals without separating the unit. I agree that doing the seals is the 'correct' miantenance fix and will probably wind up doing it that way.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 83 OMC Stringer 3.0 ball gear replacement

Is it ok to replace ball gears without new seals (if seals are not currently leaking)? Can I replace ball gears without separating outdrive from upper housing?

The outdrive IS the upper and lower gearcase. Do you mean by not removing drive? The answer is no. If you mean seperating the two halves, then yes, you can just remove the input drive gear. As the ball gears are Loctited to the shafts, you will need a press to remove them. And seals are some of the least expensive parts in a drive; no excuse NOT to change them. 'nutcase

 

[superbenk]

Re: 83 OMC Stringer 3.0 ball gear replacement

We replaced the ball gears without replacing the seals as well. Ran the boat all last summer without a single leak. Oil in both the intermediate & upper housing was extremely clean when I winterized it in the fall. While I definitely agree that it's not the ideal or proper approach, we were concerned with damaging the spacers without having a proper spacer tool to replace them properly. Since everything was tight already, we left the seals alone.