Another OMC Tilt problem

[Capt_Jon]

I've been lurking around this site for a year now, slowly working on my boat. i hope to hit the water this season, but have a problem.
the boat has sat outside for several years in central IL, but was winterized. The motor turns over and all appears to be working. it has some rot issues, but nothign too bad. i think it will work as is, but i need it to run before i do any more with the interior.

1979 19' bowrider
OMC 800 outdrive
Ford 305, carb, electronic ignition (no points)

I got the trim motor working, and replaced all 4 solenoids (2 tilt and 2 trim), new battery, plugs wires, oil changes, fuel filter and hoses, cleaned the gas tank, etc.
But the Tilt will not engage
I've pulled the clutch assembly apart and regreased everything (it was not too bad, no water inside)
i beleive the problem is with the tilt motor, or the gear assmebly, worm gear?
this is not a hydrolic assembly, there are no hoses
I guess my question is how do i get this motor out of the boat. The exhaust manifold is in the way, and i can't find any bolts that hold this motor in place. do i need to remove the outdrive to get to the mounting bolts, are they inside the outdrive, or are the outside the motor and so rusted they don't resemble bolts anymore. i'd liek to get this working as it is the only thing standing between me and the water. i suppose i could unbolt the half moon gear and manually raise and lower the end unit and bolt it back into place, but that could be dangerous, and a pain on the loading ramp.

i know this site is full of experts, so thanks in advance for all the help.
Let's go boating.
Jon

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Another OMC Tilt problem

But the Tilt will not engage
I've pulled the clutch assembly apart and regreased everything (it was not too bad, no water inside)

so....did the motor run ok when all that was out?

I guess my question is how do i get this motor out of the boat. The exhaust manifold is in the way,

you simply remove whatever is in your way

The earlier tilt motors come off, by undoing the long screws that run all the way through the housing.
Later ones had a flange mount.

If you have the flange mount, some say removing the transom boot helps them get to the bolts, but sounds like yours is the early style anyways

 

[captk]

Re: Another OMC Tilt problem

There is is a coupling between the motor and the tilt clutch. called a hammer blow coupling it could be broken. or the shaft that run through the worm gear in the tilt cluthch could be broken. best to pull that first and look at it then pull the motor if you have to. Long bolts go through the motor and it is no fun to change. best luck, Bill.

 

[Capt_Jon]

Re: Another OMC Tilt problem

Thanks for the help guys, i've got some work to do. I have yet to hit the water in this thing. aside form damage that could be caused if i hit something, what would be the harm in manually lowering and raising the lower end. I would of course tighten the bolts on the moon gear to keep it in place, either up or down. the trim works great, just not the tilt. wish it were the other way around

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Another OMC Tilt problem

what would be the harm in manually lowering and raising the lower end.

dropping the gear and or wrenches

mine just quit on me too.

My tilt shaft was binding because a piece of one of the roll pins broke and churned around in there (I discovered that later).
I stuck it in a drill and polished the shaft up and greased it.

Worked great about 3 times, then the pins sheared clean off.

That's when I found the bits.

I had a spare tilt pin, so stuck that in.

back in business.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Another OMC Tilt problem

Thanks for the help guys, i've got some work to do. I have yet to hit the water in this thing. aside form damage that could be caused if i hit something, what would be the harm in manually lowering and raising the lower end. I would of course tighten the bolts on the moon gear to keep it in place, either up or down. the trim works great, just not the tilt. wish it were the other way around

Sounds like a pain, but I think you nailed it. Your problems will only come when you hit something on the bottom. I'm in the same predicament. My tilt works fine, but my clutch is shot so it won't hold the drive either up nor down (I've rebuilt/repacked the clutch several times without success). To remedy my problem, I drove a pin through the clutch pack plates to essentially fuse them together as a single gear. If I ever hit anything, something will break, but it was a risk I was willing to take for now considering the cost of a clutch pack.

All that being said, however, I wouldn't recommend disabling the purpose of that mechanism to anyone.