OMC 400 Stringer

[footbrake]

Ok, I can't take anymore beatings from everyone for buying a boat with a 400 stringer outdrive :blue: I bought this boat from a reputable mechanic that took real good care of it for 20 years. He says it runs like a top. Here is what I'm asking you guys. I know everyone says that mechanics and parts for these 400 stringers are few and far between. There is a guy that has an outdrive for sale that has just been resealed,reshimed,new water impeller installed and new ball gears put in. They used the boat for 5 hours and the motor blew. He just wants to sell off this outdrive. Should I grab this unit and keep it as a spare or for parts if the price is right. Need some honest opinions because I can't change what I have right now. thanks all-Russ

 

[southkogs]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Welcome to the shallow end of the social pool :facepalm:

1.) if the boat is in good shape, and the engine and drive run well - there's no reason to think it won't do so for quite a while. Parts are getting harder to find (but not impossible), and people (good ones) willing to work on it are getting a bit sparse - but they aren't gone altogether.

2.) if you are committed to this boat (I've considered selling mine a couple of times and decided to stay with it), decide how much money you can/want to put into the boat (altogether or year over year) and be real with yourself - "THIS is the point I stop at ..."

3.) if you can afford the drive, and you're confident that it a.) works and b.) is a good deal - yes, I would grab it. You will need to scavenge parts from time to time. Having a backup drive that works, and perhaps a small cache of parts that are tough to find will be easier on you in the long run. I buy things as I find them and set them in a hole I have in the garage for the inevitable. But be real - don't drain your bank account for no reason, y'know?

If you're patient and don't mind the occasional week when the boat just ain't gonna' go out - the Stringer isn't a bad ole' drive. It's just old ... real old ... and people make fun of you ... a lot. <<sniffle>>

 

[tazrig]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

As Southkogs said, if you plan to keep the boat for the long haul and can afford extra drive then I'd say do it. Parts are only going to harder to find as time goes on. Even if you decide to sell the boat later on it will be worth that much more with the extra drive.

 

[footbrake]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Thanks for the reply. Could you tell me if the outdrive is a match to the one that I have on my boat? Mine is the white one. Thanks-Russ

 

[southkogs]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

I can't tell you from pictures: If it's a 400, and you have a 400 - you should be able to swap them IF the horse power is the same or close. I don't know the 400 series as well, but the gearing is different from HP rating to HP rating.

Look at your shift mechanism, and check that against the donor boat - if it's the same, you should be okay. If you get the control set - you can probably swap the drives out altogether, but you'll need the intermediate housing (and again) to make sure the HP will work vs. the engine in your boat.

Make sense?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

not a match. The black or grey one has a full mechanical shift lower unit (1982-1985), and the white one is hydromechanical shift 1979-1981.
The upper gearbox should be identical, but the lowers do not interchange.
See how the black one has a zinc anode behind the idle relief holes above the anti-vent plate. Yours doesn't. That's how you tell externally which type of lower unit it is.

If you can get the whole boat, and get the control converter, ESA module and associated electrical parts etc... you can swap but that's a lot of work.

However, good luck finding a working hydromech lower like yours... most of them did not live into the 1990s (water in the lower seized the hydro assist plunger). OMC replaced some of the hydromechs with the full mech lower, converting the controls and electrical in the boat as a warranty program in the mid 80's which adds to ID confusion by year and adds to scarcity of the hydromech lowers.

 

[footbrake]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

My boat is registered as a 1982, yet you say the outdrive is hydromechanical 1979-1981. Does hydromechanical mean it's electric shift? I was told mine was electric shift.

 

[QC]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Electric shift OMCs look like this:

Not yours. It is very common for a boat to have an engine/drive from a year or two before.

 

[footbrake]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Wow I'm really confused now..So what do I have? Electric?, full Mechanical?, hydromechanical? seems like either I'm very mixed up or everyone is seeing different things:lol:. Thanks guys

 

[QC]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Reread Howard's post. He is very knowledgeable on "Stringers", and he says yours, the white one, is hydromechanical.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

It is not uncommon for a 1982 boat to have a 1981 driveline. They are made in 2 different factories, sometimes in different countries. All the drives/engines assembled from September to December were just about guaranteed to be in hulls of the future.

 

[southkogs]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Reread Howard's post. He is very knowledgeable on "Stringers"...

^^^^^ Big time. He's saved my "keister*" several times.


*According to QC, "keister" is a word that means rear end, butt, backside, posterior or OMC electric shift stringer (or perhaps their owners ).

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

I was told mine was electric shift.

?
What exactly do I have here on my new boat?
http://www.marineengine.com/boat-fo...-have-here-on-my-new-boat&p=415680#post415680

month ago

 

[vi]

Re: OMC 400 Stringer

Would purchasing the whole unit, if its good, be a better choice than just having the Hydro, mine (Hydros) have always scattered on me. I did the lower swap and purchased a new esa, even without the new esa the mechanical worked a whole season, just had shifting problems. Howard mentioned the new esa, (interupter, the beef hooked me up with a manual). I haven't got it going yet, (my son bought an 84 Honda Magna,needed help...) but I think it'll be a go.