I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

[Aintjudge]

I traded for a nice 194 Four Winns Candia, upholstery done last year, last owner just had serviced,(Like a Mercruiser, I'm afraid) took it out got less than a mile away and it locked up won't budge with the starter he bought new starter, installed fires right up on the muffs, so I take it, get about 150 yds. away from the dock, same senario, lock down.

I take it home, muffs next morning, fires right up, however after pulling the cover on the top housing, DRY. gears are still good but I;m afraid the bearings are shot, in neutral the bottom spins freely, and I pulled the out drive and the horizonal bearing is good but the verticle one is in a terrible bind, and I can feel the bearings are grooved and pitted...

My question is (Finally) does anyone think I could replace the bearings in it or do you think there's probably to much damaged? Also what is the price range on just bearings and races or can you even get just those without buying the gearsets? I'm including some pics of the unit don' know if it'll help, but I'm sending them...

Any help is greatly appreciated...

 

[DBreskin]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

I'm going through the exact same scenario right now. I am replacing the bearings in the upper half. The bearings are readily available individually. Be sure the upper pinion bearing carrier is OK; mine was damaged by the spun bearing.

 

[Don S]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

And make sure you have all the special tools for setting gear height and preloads. If you don't all that work and expense for gears and bearsing will be junk in a short time.

 

[Lodgepole]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

You are not a "COBRA VICTIM". You are a "LACK OF MAINTENANCE VICTIM'.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

Probably going to be a lot more of these as there are less and less mechanics familiar with how to fill these properly. Amazing that there is a post on here as well where the person owns a Cobra, knows the proper way, and still insists on filling it from the bottom...oh well!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

I'm going through the exact same scenario right now. I am replacing the bearings in the upper half. The bearings are readily available individually. Be sure the upper pinion bearing carrier is OK; mine was damaged by the spun bearing.

You really need to completely disassemble your drive and inspect all the bearings and gears after a catastrophic failure like that. Just doing the "upper" it a bit risky I would think.

And if I had to do that I would not do it at all with a Dog-clutch Cobra. I would either do an SEI or Volvo Penta "conversion" or remove everything and get a Mercruiser engine and drive from a "donor" boat.....



The SEI conversion (with a new drive) would probably be the cheapest of course........ even cheaper if you scrounge a used Alpha.....


Good luck,


Rick

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

Are we talking a Cobra or a Cobra SX?

Looks like a regular Cobra from the pictures he posted. Notice the hole with seal out the back of the upper? That is the water pump shaft.

 

[Aintjudge]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

The model # is 987346, Ser.# 10775392, Eng. 5.0,

I've got it all apart and it apears to only have damaged the upper bearing, actually the bearing cage is shredded, but the lower unit still spins freely in gear with the shaft as well as the prop when it's put in either gear, so now I'm open to suggestions, fix it ,or SEI replace it?


I've added more photos, haven't got the bearings out yet, but fixin to get back at it, just thought I'd give an update....

 

[jeffw0038]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

I'm glad i came across this post because i just bought a boat with a 1987 OMC codobra outdrive and i know the outdrive hasn't been serviced in 2 yrs as it has been in a garage and not ran in that period of time.

I'm getting ready too change the fluid in the outdrive. #1 what is the best oil too use for this outdrive? I'm also changing the impeller witch looks easy to do. I know i need to check the u-joints is this easy to do and also to get to for a novice? or do i need to take it to a boat mech? What else do i need to do to it to get it ready to go? I had a mercruiser before and it had greaseserts i don't see them on the cobra. Appreciate any feedback!

Thanks
Jeff

 

[bruceb58]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

You should probably start your own post and/or do a search because there is a lot out there already on the subject. I use 75w-90 GL5 Mobil1 in both the OMC Cobra that I owned as well as my Volvo SX.

Checking the u-joints and gimbal bearing is identical to the Mercruiser. When you pull the drive you have it in neutral.

You should buy a factory OMC manual for this if you plan on doing much of your own work.

 

[jeffw0038]

Re: I've became another "Cobra" victim I'm afraid?

Ok thanks.