Engine removal....

[Steelramhemi]

Hello all, I posted my new boat purchase in the star craft owners section but long story short...I bought a 1984 Starcraft with an omc 3.0 stringer....yes I know I know...lol
Boat was supposed to be in excellent condition as per the dealers ad on iboats but instead was rotted, so I got refunded most of my investment, now I have the motor and drive for sale on craigslist to hopefully make back what i am out. Motor and drive are in excellent condition so i hope they can sell. .

If they do not sell I am going to rebuild the boat to use for a year or two. I already have it gutted down to the hull so just need to pour my seacast stringers and motor mounts boxes and refloor.

To my question..... can I pull the motor without removing the drive? There is nothing around it, everything is removed. If I can, what is the procedure? I'm an outbowrd guy so I have no clue about inboards, yet. Will there be any seals or anything to replace if i do remove the motor and leave the drive in place? I'd like to leave the drive because if the transom is good, then why add more work...lol I have my feelings that the transom is shot but I don't know until i get the motor out of the way.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Engine removal....

No. The drive is supported by the motor itself, not the transom. Removing a Stringer drive is easy, though. First remove the quadrant gear (the half-moon shaped gear on the port side of the drive that tilts the drive up & down). Open up the shift adapter box over the back of the engine where the shift cable comes out & CAREFULLY remove the shift cable (they're rare & about $600 to replace!). Then remove the caps off the pivots on either side of the drive & the remove the drive. Carefully pull the shift cable out with the drive - it might require some tugging, but it will come - just be careful & take your time.

Buying the Solec manual wouldn't be a bad idea before doing this job. It explains the process in more detail & could help you if you decide to keep it.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Engine removal....

Also, if you're adventurous & resourceful you're half way to replacing the OMC with a Merc

Ok, maybe not half way, but you're already into the stringers & you think the transom might be shot so you could tear it out & rebuild it for a Merc. Just a thought. Of course you'd need to find a Merc motor, drive & controls.

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: Engine removal....

Thanks for the help, I'll give it a few weeks to see if it will sell before I tear into it. I am retired/disability from Brunswick corporation, who own mercury. I have an email out to human resources to see if I still get the employee pricing being that I am retired. If I do I think it's 20% below cost for all merc products....crossing my fingers! I've beenreadingall night about swapping to a merc,doesn't look too bad of a job.

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine removal....

I've beenreadingall night about swapping to a merc,doesn't look too bad of a job.

It's not that easy. First you have to plug that big hole in the transom, then you have to make the transom 2" thick. Then you will have to add stringers and motor mount pads.

If I do I think it's 20% below cost for all merc products.

WOW, that could get real expensive for them, sure you didn't mean below list ????

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: Engine removal....

20% below dealer cost is what my old handbook says.

Yea, while redoing the transom I was just going to make it solid, build it up and get a a merc template. The glass work isn't a problem, I actually enjoy working with glass. My moto,r mount boxes have grubs living in them, so all the stringers and supports need to get rebuild anyway. My wife says I'm nuts, but honestly, I think rebuilding is more fun than actually boating...lol

 

[superbenk]

Re: Engine removal....

You can find some threads in the Restorations section where others have done the conversion from Stringer to Merc. Some really good info in there. I agree that it sounds like a fun project & you definitely sound like you have a good connection for Merc parts. Good luck!

 

[Don S]

Re: Engine removal....

My wife says I'm nuts, but honestly, I think rebuilding is more fun than actually boating...lol

I think I'm going to have to agree with your wife on this one.

 

[Steelramhemi]

Re: Engine removal....

Well screw merc!! Just got an email back from human resources....

Michael,
Thank you for the email, unfortunately, retired employees are not eligible for our purchase program benefits.



Wow...that's nice of them.


I do have somewhat of a dumb question though....if the stringer drive is fully supported by the motor, which is supported by the stringers....does the condition of the transom even really matter? From what I can tell its modtly solid, just maybe the very bottom looks like it was once wet. The rubber transom seal is brand new as is the trim motor and trim solenoids ( dealer wrote that in bill of sale)