Keep Using Broken Ball Gear?

[klonteig]

Before the flaming starts, here's the situation:

- bought a 1978 Sea Ray SRV 197 a few weeks ago, with a OMC Stern Drive
- Used is for approx 15 hours last week - runs well enough
- Out fishing yesterday with the kids and seems to run a little rough (keep in mind I'm still getting a feel for it, but something seemed different to me - nothing drastic, but enough to notice)
- Found a broken tooth on the driven side ball gear - not sure when it happened, but wasnt there 2 weeks ago when I looked at the boat before purchasing

So given that we have limited season left this year, what's an expert opinion on continuing to use the boat with this broken tooth for the rest of the season (say until October, a few hours each weekend)? I know this needs to be fixed, but I also know I don't have time to do it myself right now, and I'd really like to so that I can go through the rest of the pieces, get to know my equipment better, and address any other items that are in need of attention. Other option is obviously to take it in and pay for it - but..... we all know that story.

Anyway, like I said, just looking for opinions. I'm not sure that the rough running is a result of this or possibly something else. The more I was thinking about it, I wonder if it would affect it all, since the other teeth should all be engaged anyway.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Scott Danforth]

fix it now or spend lots of money rebuilding the drive.

if a tooth broke off, you may have other issues.

BTW, if the ball gear teeth are worn more than 25% its time to replace them

its a one day (assuming nothing else is wrong) and the kit is $150.

 

[klonteig]

Thanks for the feedback. The rest of the teeth don't appear to worn excessively, although I can now see new wear areas that I assume are there due to the missing tooth and the change in how the gears are meshing?

 

[klonteig]

Oh, and meant to ask, should both gears be replaced at the same time to avoid mismatched wear?

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes, you get a COMPLETE kit, which has seals, nuts, cap-plugs, etc.

you replace both at the same time. the drive needs to come off, so be prepared for that as well.

most people let the ball gears go way too long prior to changing.

use the factory manual, or at a minimum the videos shown http://sterndrive.info/

 

[kenny nunez]

If you replace the 2 ball gears keep a very close watch on the wear pattern. You must only run the boat with the drive tilted for beaching or idling in shallow water. If the gears start to wear quickly then the news will be very $$$$$$ bad. That is a signal that the upper gear case and intermediate housing are distorted from the previous owner either ran the boat with the drive tilted until the 2 gears actually “slipped” over each other or at some point the the boat backed into something with the drive down while on the trailer.

 

[Scott Danforth]

FWIW, I was getting about 600 hours a set of gears (about 3 years)

 

[klonteig]

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice. Looked into kits and they look like they're about $300 CAD where I'm at. Probably going to try and tackle it before I get it out again - which unfortunately/fortunately will be a about 3 weeks due my schedule, so might as well take advantage of the time. Only thing I'm afraid of is what else I find that I want to take of care, and then it turns into a big project. We'll see how it goes. Any recommendation on must do's while I have the outdrive off?

 

[kenny nunez]

Take a picture of the way the shift cable is arranged in the converter box before removing the cables. Be very careful with the shift cable not to damage it.