How do I separate up/low units '88 OMC Cobra?

[ColaTM]

1988 OMC 3.0L Cobra

Seloc Instructions (followed them all):
If the drive has been completely remove from the boat, simply follow the upper gear housing removal procedures and lift it off the lower unit, otherwise:

1. Move the drive to the full down position and the drain the oil.

2. Now move the drive to the full tilt up position.

3. Position an appropriate support fixture around or under the lower unit.

4. Disconnect the battery cables.

5. Make a note of the of where the index mark is in relationship to the grid on the bottom of the trim tab and then remove the trim tab bolt and the tab. Make sure that you write the tab mark down somewhere!

6. Remove the bolt that was partially covered by the trim tab and then remove second bolt forward of this one. The middle bolt is for the anode and does not need to be removed.

7. Remove the 4 mounting bolts (2 on each side) from the sides of the lower unit.

8. Carefully lower the housing down and away from the upper unit until the shift rod disengages the guide pin and then swivel it 90 degrees to port while lowering it completely away. Move it to an appropriate stand.

I can't even separate with a pry bar. Am I missing something?

Thanks.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: How do I separate up/low units '88 OMC Cobra?

Take it easy with the pry bar. There are 2 o-rings on the driveshaft housing that are holding the 2 halves together. It will seperate, just keep working it.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How do I separate up/low units '88 OMC Cobra?

Don't forget there is bolt hiding beneath the trim adjusting fin, the trim adjuster has to be removed to access the bolt.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How do I separate up/low units '88 OMC Cobra?

deleted post

 

[ColaTM]

Re: How do I separate up/low units '88 OMC Cobra?

Thanks for the advice.

Got it.

 

[Kim1349]

Re: How do I separate up/low units '88 OMC Cobra?

I was a bit confused from this post. I wasn't sure if you were having problems getting the upper unit and lower unit separated at all or if you had separated them and could not get the lower unit off after that.

The instructions say to turn the shift to the Port side.

We are working on exactly the same unit as yours. We have the upper and lower units seperated by about an inch or so and the lower unit will not come down any more. We have put vice grips on the shift shaft but no matter what we do it will not turn free to allow the unit to drop out. Any old timers had this problem and care to comment on what to do next? We are thinking of cutting the shift shaft and replacing it to get the unit apart so we can take out the upper part of the shift rod.

The poster of this thread, did you get yours apart ok then?

Sparks