Drive belt help

[83Galaxie]

I have an 83 Galaxie with a 3.0 liter motor. I just purchased it and am doing maintanence prior to taking her out, here is where I am at! How do I change the drive belt? In all of my work I have never seen a set-up like this where the belt goes on the outside of what holds the engine in place.It looks like I should remove the bracket that bolts to the front of the block,then the bracket sits on a spring that moves the engine when the outdrive is raised or lowered.Is this what actually needs to happen?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drive belt help

then the bracket sits on a spring that moves the engine when the outdrive is raised or lowered.

Ayuh,... Sounds like an old OMC Stringer drive,.... So I'm not sure,...
Everybodyelse allows you to remove a Spacer Block by pulling only the 2 bolts in the portside of the Block...

 

[83Galaxie]

Re: Drive belt help

So the old OMC Stinger drive is not a good thing?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drive belt help

So the old OMC Stinger drive is not a good thing?

Nope...

 

[83Galaxie]

Re: Drive belt help

so now that we have established that the Stringer drive is not good,how do I go about changing the drive belt? I understand about the maintanence issues, shes 26 years old and I purchased her complete for 450.00 and I spent 5 hours on the lake with only expected fuel issues as a problem. I have done every maintanence item listed between the Seloc and Clymer manuals except this one.

 

[mkast]

Re: Drive belt help

I have done every maintanence item listed between the Seloc and Clymer manuals except this one.

Go to the adult's only thread, download the Mercruiser maintenance manual for your engine and drive, follow it. I think you'll find it more detailed than the one's you are using.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Drive belt help

See if your front mount looks like this one...if so, you can take out the two bolts and remove the spacer block. This allows you to change the belt!

 

[totx]

Re: Drive belt help

Ayuh,...
Everybodyelse allows you to remove a Spacer Block by pulling only the 2 bolts in the portside of the Block...

how do I go about changing the drive belt?

Did you look for the spacer?

OMC only have one bolt on port side!? Is it a spacer there?

If not I assume you have to lift the engine and move the whole front engine mount....

Edit:
A bit late...

 

[83Galaxie]

Re: Drive belt help

I looked for the spacer block and there is none. The mount is solid with 2 bolts on each side. Man, that is a stupid design.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Drive belt help

just put a floor jack or pieces of wood under the motor to take the weight. Undo the front mount.
Tie a second new belt in place for next time!

 

[cr2k]

Re: Drive belt help

Yes you have to remove the mount to replace the belt. And DO strap in a spare.

I bet all those guys who poo poo the OMC stringer drives run Bayliner Capris with a Force 85 hp.

All other things being equal, I would choose just about anything over an OMC stringer. But you can live with them. I have an 84 Regal Medallion 195 and it runs good and is reliable.