OMC Checkover

[hibbert6]

OK, so lets say I find a used boat to purchase with an OMC engine/outdrive. As OMC is out of business, and mechanics & tools are few and far between, what questions should I ask when looking for a shop to do a pre-purchase mechanical check of the powertrain? Are there some key questions I should ask (or answers I should look for) to make sure the mechanic really knows OMC's and knows what to look for when evaluating the powertrain?

Dave

 

[Malibud]

Re: OMC Checkover

my mechanic was factory trained by OMC

 

[davepnc]

Re: OMC Checkover

I'm in the same situation as you except I bought the boat before I found this Forum.Mine is an 82 140hp with stringer 400 and it runs good but I haven't even had it in the water yet.I got a manual with it when I bought it and am planning to work on It myself I'll keep it going as long as possible.I hope you get more replies people don't talk about OMC much around here lately.

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Checkover

It doesn't take an OMC tech to evaluate it, it's not like they dissasemble the drive and engine and check each part.
When we do evaluations like yours, we check the engine oil, start the engine and run it till it warms up and see how it looks and sounds. Look for leaks, check the oil pressure (if it seems excessivly low or high we use a mechanical gauge to verify), temps (with IR gun), listen for any noises. Check the shifting and steering and listen to the drive for any odd sounds. Also manually verify the shift interrupt system is functioning properly by manually activating the shift interrupt and see if the engine misses.
We then shut it off, do a compression check, recheck the engine oil, and pull the drive and check the gimbal bearing, ujoints, and especially look at the alignment, and visually inspect the coupler splines.

 

[skeat]

Re: OMC Checkover

I have a 4.3 Cobra not much difference then anything else when checking the powertrain. Most OEM parts are still available from BRP. As always how it was maintained means everything. On Long Island there are still quite a few guys familiar with OMC, so that always helps. Keep posting specific questions and you will get the answers you need. Good Luck

 

[ziggy]

Re: OMC Checkover

OK, so lets say I find a used boat to purchase with an OMC engine/outdrive.

my comment don't answer yer question but after readin iboats for a few years it is how i felt about it when i went lookin for a boat. if it had an omc or a mercruiser 470 version engine. that was the end of lookin at that boat for me..... i just didn't figure i needed the headache....... no matter how cool the boat was. just my 2 cent....

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC Checkover

You need to be aware that it's a lot harder to find techs that really know OMCs relize that the last dog clutch Cobra was made in 1993, that's 15 years ago. If you're talking a 94-98 Cobra SX, that's a whole differnet animal, a Volvo shop can service that for you. I have a really good OMC shop, they serviced them back when they were new and are familiar with all the quirks. I would not buy one with out a water test. A well adjusted Cobra should shift into gear with a light 'thunk' no grinding, and it should NOT make a loud "CLUNK" as you accelerate the boat on plane, that could be worn cluch dogs on the lower gears, which was a well known problem that was caused by defective shift cables (86-89 was recalled because of this). They also should not be stiff going into neutral, that could also be a bad transom shift cable or an ESA not working right. These raw water cooled OMCs had 160 thermostats in them and should run right at that temp. So if it shifts properly, runs well, reaches max RPM like it should, doesn't overheat or make funny noises, it may be fine.
*****NOTE IF YOU DON'T DO A WATER TEST, YOU CAN'T EVALUATE ANY OF THE SHIFT ISSUES, OR THE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR ISSUE, SO DO NOT GET TALKED INTO BUYING IT JUST WITH A WATER HOSE DRY LAND RUN UP OF THE MOTOR*******
do a search for the Stuart Hastings website, it has just about all you need to know about the Cobra. You can still get factory manuals on E-bay. The main issues are that not many know how to adjust the shift linkage and make the ESA work, and also, the gear oil re-fill procedure is different than a Merc and must be followed exactly.

All that being said, WHY do you want an OMC??!!
I like mine, it's not been much trouble but I woudn't buy one now, and if my drive has to be re-built at some point I may just convert it over to a Volvo SX, pricey but good.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC Checkover

You have many options here...


Your best one however is to "JUST SAY NO"!


Cheers,


Rick

OK, so lets say I find a used boat to purchase with an OMC engine/outdrive. As OMC is out of business, and mechanics & tools are few and far between, what questions should I ask when looking for a shop to do a pre-purchase mechanical check of the powertrain? Are there some key questions I should ask (or answers I should look for) to make sure the mechanic really knows OMC's and knows what to look for when evaluating the powertrain?

Dave

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Checkover

As OMC is out of business,
WHY do you want an OMC??!!
You have many options here...
Your best one however is to "JUST SAY NO"!

Ayuh,......... Exactly..........

 

[Coors]

Re: OMC Checkover

Serviced and maintained correctly; the old OMCs just keep on ticking...

 

[hibbert6]

Re: OMC Checkover

Whew! A hot topic!

Why an OMC and not a Merc or Volvo?

Looking in the local "Boat Advertiser" mags I buy at 7-11, it seems that most open bow runabouts in my price range (<$10k) in my area are mid 1990's with OMC's. So, based on what many have said here in iboats, I figured that if I find a good boat with a good OMC I should be OK. So what I asked in my original post still holds true: If I want an OMC checked out,how do I know if a mechanic really knows his OMC's well enough to know what to look for in a pre-sale inspection? When my motorhome needed a new tranny, I found a (non-transmission) repair place that told me what specifically to look for when pricing a rebuild or buying a rebuilt unit for an RV - things that certain chains had no clue about, I discovered as I did my price research. That's the kind of info I'm looking for here.

Or maybe the point is moot - maybe any i/o mechanic can do this type of inspection well. If so, please tell me.

Thanks!

Dave

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC Checkover

Well, this has really been beat to death.

In actuality there's really nothing wrong with an OMC except the company went out of business back in about 2000 or so....

Parts availability ranges from new (old stock) and new (aftermarket) to not available.

Some of the "not available" parts are show-stoppers. Like a coupler or ignition module

There are very few mechs that can properly adjust a Dog-clutch Cobra Lower shift cable. Many think they can and the result is having to replace the gear-set at great cost....And that mech will say it wasn't his fault...."Cobras have a reputation of doing this!!!"


properly set up and maintained they're fine.

A 57 Edsel was fine too......(in 1957)


There's no difference in the engines..... unless you have a King Cobra with a 460. Then you can't buy exhaust manifolds and if it's a later model with electronic ign.....well you can't buy the ignition parts.

The coupler is not available either....another show stopper.

Actually I think I saw exhaust manifolds at Doug Russell.com.

They were about $1400 EACH!!!

Merc/Volvo manifold/riser kits are around $500 or less all day long.


This is just going to get worse not better as time goes on.


If you do decide to get an OMC powered boat you can always do what I did and replace the whole mess with a Mercruiser or Volvo.

If you find a super deal like I did, you'll luck out. Otherwise....you'll regret it.



Good luck.


Rick

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Checkover

Ayuh,........

I guess it's about Impossible to convince somebody that Saving a nickle on the original purchase price is doing nothing but setting themselves up for Major Disappointments Later.......

OMC powered I/O boats are sold at Bargin Basement Prices for a Reason........

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Checkover

Or maybe the point is moot - maybe any i/o mechanic can do this type of inspection well. If so, please tell me.

I did tell you, very early in this thread.

First line of my reply
"It doesn't take an OMC tech to evaluate it, it's not like they dissasemble the drive and engine and check each part."

 

[hibbert6]

Re: OMC Checkover

OK, Thanks, all! The "will only get worse, not better" point hit home. So I guess it will be either Merc or Volvo. I WILL resist the bargain basement OMC boats. I WILL resist. I WILL resist. I must keep telling myself that!

Dave