Cobra OMC Drives

[mudmagnet63]

Does anyone have an opoinion on cobra omc drives Good or Bad ?

 

[j442w30]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

Like anything else it depends on how the drive was operated and maintained. OMC has been out of business for a while now so that makes them even less desireable. However some OMC cobras were developed in a joint venture with Volvo and are similar to the SX drive, a very good drive. If it's a King Cobra drive I would stay away parts are scarce and people who can service them correctly are even more rare. If you're looking at a boat with a OMC Cobra I would highly recommend you look for a different boat that has a Mercruiser or Volvo engine/drive package.

 

[mudmagnet63]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

How can I tell the difference

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

How can I tell the difference

Ayuh,........................

Probably the Same Way you'd tell whether you've looking at a Chevy, or Ford, or Dodge, or Cadilac, or......................

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

My OMC Cobra drive is very strong. it all depends how it was takin care of..

 

[mudmagnet63]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

I'm just curious why some people are so down on this unit from what I've read they cleaned up their act in 89 and designed a unit very close to a VOLVO the boat is a 89 Bayliner 18' 3.0

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

Actually this question had been answered quite a few times.

It's not that the Cobra is a "bad" drive per se'

They were the precursor to the Volvo SX family of drives.

They worked good when taken care of.

Mine pushed my boat to almost 60 mph for almost 20 years.....AND the last few years problems were not "drive" related.


They have 3 main problems.

1. The company no longer exists!

2. Unless you are able to do all the maintenance work yourself (and you have all the specialized tools) it will be difficult finding someone to fix it......Oh....many will say: "Oh yeah!" "We Work on OMC Cobra$" [be sure to bring money!]

Depending on the model, the parts availability range from available (aftermarket or "new-old stock) to NLA (NON-EXISTENT)

3. THE COMPANY NO LONGER EXISTS..... Oh....already said that!

Ok....2 main problems.





If you're looking at a boat. And you look at one with an OMC drive.....in general, keep looking.... but look for one with a Volvo or Mercruiser drive if you want a sterndrive.


By the way the last ones WERE Volvo SX drives.....same parts numbers etc.



Cheers,



Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

They were the precursor to the Volvo SX family of drives.

Not hardly. Volvo has always made the cone shift since the 60's. OMC didn't have a thing to do with the design of the SX/DP-S drives. It's the OMC housing with Volvo gears and bearings and cone shifting during the OMC/Volvo joint venture, which was a couple of years before Volvo bought them out completely.
If it has a water pump on the drive. It's an OMC Cobra. If no drive it's basically an SX from 94 or above.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

Well, You're right of course!


Shall we say I used the word "loosely"

Instead of the word precursor I should have used the word "partnership" I guess the only precursor part is the fact that the Cobra came chronologically before the SX.

The partnership really didn't last very long either.



For me.....Omc Cobras are great on someone elses boat. My King Cobra is also doing just fine on my shop floor! It's not going to be going into any boat I own either. It'll probably show up on ebay in the next few months or so. There's nothing wrong with it so it will probably do someone some good someday.



My original suggestion stands. Save yourself a lot of headaches.....Buy a boat with a Volvo or Merc on it.

Not hardly. Volvo has always made the cone shift since the 60's. OMC didn't have a thing to do with the design of the SX/DP-S drives. It's the OMC housing with Volvo gears and bearings and cone shifting during the OMC/Volvo joint venture, which was a couple of years before Volvo bought them out completely.
If it has a water pump on the drive. It's an OMC Cobra. If no drive it's basically an SX from 94 or above.

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

My original suggestion stands. Save yourself a lot of headaches.....Buy a boat with a Volvo or Merc on it.

I have no problems with that statement at all, and would suggest the same thing.

 

[joshfkntaylor]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

they might not be desirable but to the people who need them, they pay the money.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

OMC

Obsolete
Marine
Corporation

Need more be said??

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

Just trust me, guy. When I was looking at boats every-single boat person said to steer CLEAR of anything OMC because they went out of business. I saw lots of boats with them in it, but I will not touch it no matter how tempting the offer. However, they DO make aftermarket OMC parts. I believe GLM Marine is the company...

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

Several companies make aftermarket parts for OMC, but no one is providing trained service personel to fix thing that are beyond a DIYers capabilities. Like outdrive rebuilds, and not everyone can change the lower shift cable and adjust it properly.
There is a lot more to OMC outdrives than just buying parts.

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

Several companies make aftermarket parts for OMC, but no one is providing trained service personel to fix thing that are beyond a DIYers capabilities. Like outdrive rebuilds, and not everyone can change the lower shift cable and adjust it properly.
There is a lot more to OMC outdrives than just buying parts.

Yeah. True...

 

[Rob454]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

. When I was looking at boats every-single boat person said to steer CLEAR of anything OMC because they went out of business. I saw lots of boats with them in it, but I will not touch it no matter how tempting the offer.

Why? there are plenty of places that service and know OMC. when I go to a mechanic I look through the yard and I see what he has in. a GOOD mechanic wont be afraid to fix anything. its the crappy mechanics who f**k up a lot that hate working on stuff and give it bad names IMO. I rebuilt a OMC 800 for a buddy of mine. yeah it wasnt fun to do cause I was reading more than working but its been on his boat for 4 months and he goes out every weekend and so far its been fine.
if I had a dollar for everytime someone gave me advice i would be a millionaire.
My OMC is abotu 18 years OLD and its great. i had to put in a new shift cable and have it adjusted. Eventually the OMCs will be obsolete and will go away but there are plenty of them out there as of now.
I see plenty of mercs and albha and bravos going in the shop and breaking.
I wouldnt worry about the parts. with that many OMCs out there someone will make the parts.
Rob

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

I'm not saying they aren't any good mechanically, I'm just going by what those who were coaching me on boats (I'm fairly new to the I/O world). They had me scared when they said parts are scarce and hard to get (NOT something I want to deal with ontop of doing repairs myself), but I saw alot of boats with OMC drives. I just didn't want the hassle of finding rare, used parts or something. I was just advised that Merc is the choice of many power boaters, and i've always had good luck with my merc outboards.

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

I see plenty of mercs and albha and bravos going in the shop and breaking.

That is because there are more of them out there than anything else.

Fact is. if a person can't do the drive work himself, then he needs to find someone who can. There are lots of Merc techs out there, not many OMC. A lot depends on where you are located. Just because you have no problems finding a mechanic doesn't mean someone in a different part of the country has the same choices. OMC has still been out of buisness for 10 years.

I also don't recommend using an Edsel station wagon to tow a boat with. Sure people have them, but ....................

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

I'm also a newbe to i/o's I knew nothing about i/o drives when I bought mine, it's attached to a 5.8 liter Ford v8, and yes it's a OMC. I had no idea when I bought it that OMC was such a steer clear of drive as you guys put it, but, I'm stuck with it and so far other than a few engine issues and a shift cable it's been pretty good, granted I've only had it on the water 4-5 times.
On a positive note--The more would be owners that get detoured from buying one just means there will be more laying around for me to grab for parts, maybe pick em up for cheap, so if your looking for a i/o you definately don't want an OMC--can't get parts, can't find mechanics,if you do have a local supplier he want 3 times retail for OMC stuff, just follow the crowd and buy a mercruiser.

 

[skeat]

Re: Cobra OMC Drives

I have an '89 4.3 Cobra with the original outdrive that still shifts fine. The cable and ESA module have been replaced. A little PM goes a long way, just making sure the linkage and cables work smoothly can eliminate a lot of problems. OEM parts are still available from Bombardier (the company that acquired OMC, Johnson/Evinrude). Crowley Marine and Doug Russell Marine are 2 online suppliers that offer them at a discount. The engines are Chevy's and Ford's so parts are always available for them anyway. And I have been told that the Cobra is as good or better than Merc's when set up correctly. By not looking at boats with OMC's you might be missing out on a lot of good deals. Like anything used you have to make sure it's been well taken care of and not abused.

-Shawn