OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

So...he probably filled the drive from the lower drain plug to the middle plug which is actually the fill plug. Your whole upper was dry! Yikes.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

This guy does not need to be working on any boat!

Is this a legit shop?

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

Sounds like he thought he was working on a JohnnyRude outboard instead of a Cobra....
I really don't understand why it's so hard for some people...the first time I winterized my Cobra I just followed the instructions in the OMC manual that came with the boat (which was at that time 14 years old!)...anyway my neighbor who THINKS he's a marine mechanic (NOT!) comes over and watches what I'm doing and proceeds to tell me I'm doing it wrong (he has had only Mercs) I show him the manual and he's like well I never heard of that before.....It's sad that you can depend on a 'marine mechanic' to do a simple job right...after all...there were only 3 makers of sterndrives when OMC was in business... not like cars where there are so many makes and models and its gotta be much harder for auto techs to keep up....

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

So it sounds like you did pull the top cover, what did it look like in there?

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

Anybody can stick up a sign and call themselves a Marine Repair shop.
If they aren't a dealer for anything thing, don't expect them to know everything or anything about boats. I've known too many in the past that work on cars and stick MARINE on the end of thier name and hope for the best.
While there may be only a few different manufacturers of drives, there are many types and styles of drives out there. They all are different from each other.
Buyer beware.
If they aren't an OMC dealer, do the jobs yourself......

.
.
.
.
. OH wait, OMC has been out of buisness for over 10 years. There aren't any dealers anymore.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

So it sounds like you did pull the top cover, what did it look like in there?

Here's a picture of the inside of the upper half as it appeared when I opened it. No lube visible! The upper horizontal shaft turns; the vertical shaft is seized.

I'm guessing the surface rust is due to being exposed to air in the absence of lube over the winter.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

I took the drive (still assembled, except for taking off the top cover to look in the upper half) back to the mechanic. While I was there explaining the upper half was dry, he said he had only drained the lower half, not the upper half. I responded that a Cobra has one large cavity; opening the bottom plug drains the whole drive.

Does a Mercruiser or VP drain the top and bottom halves separately?

That about answers the question doesn't it?

Dude damages more than he fixes............ I'd get a lawyer. After you brief him, he'll probably do it "Pro-bono"



r

 

[DBreskin]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

So it sounds like you did pull the top cover, what did it look like in there?

Here are a couple of pictures of the inside of the upper unit. I'm guessing the surface rust is due to exposing to air over the winter since there wasn't enough lube.

(sorry for the duplicate post)

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

The statement he made about only draining the lower half right there tells you he had no idea what he was doing because the upper and lower share the same oil supply there is no way you could drain them separately as you COULD on the OMC Stringer series where the lower gear housing and intermediate housing WERE separate units...but again on Merc and Volvo (SX series) they are the same...upper and lower share the same oil supply...

And as far as there being no OMC dealers...well there are dealers selling Evinrudes still...and if they were selling them before 2000 when OMC went bankrupt...they WERE an OMC dealer before BRP bought the assests...and you'd want to find out if they also serviced Cobras when they were sold...my mechanic is an ex-OMC dealer who sold Evirudes and Johnsons but was not picked up by BRP because they did not sell enough engines (foolish on BRP's part). The sterndrive guy went to all the OMC schools and knows them inside and out and rebuilds them in his shop still. Anything I can't fix it goes to him. When he retires then I'll have to either get a newer boat or swap the Cobra when it goes...So it is possible to find shops that know Cobras but certainly not easy....plus....the last dog clutch Cobra was made 17 years ago...that's a long time...

I'd have to compare owning one of these to having a classic car...you won't find a mechanic on every corner who worked on classics when they were new...and many younger ones probably have never worked on a points n condenser distributor or re-built a Quadrajet...but the people with these cars do find the mechanics out there who work on them...there is a shop near me like that...it looks like a DUMP but if you drive by there are always a few beautifully restored classics from the 50s and 60s....

In your case if they guy winds up replacing your Cobra (and he shoul BUY one already done don't let HIM rebuilt it!) I'd get the factory OMC manuals on e-bay and do the maintenance yourself...it's not that difficult and you'll do a better job...just by following INSTRUCTIONS...

 

[Noe de la Garza]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

We have the exact same boat, but mine comes with a Cone clutch? Could customers back then order which one they wanted or was wither yours or mine swaped?

Let me know if you do the SEI conversion? I think I am screwed on that route since the cone clutches are not an option for the SEI conversion. So starting to look which one I can mount.

Noe

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

After reading through this thread, I have a question. My boat was winterized at a dealer (about 225 miles away). They sell Bayliner and work on OMC. Since they changed the gear lube during the winterization, would I be able to open the dipstick and be able to verify it was refilled correctly? Would the air have worked its way up and give me a low level (if not filled correctly or fully)?

I've talked with others who recommended these folks, but now, after reading this, you have me wondering. And the plan is to launch next week.

And thanks for all the informaion I've found in the forum. Even with the factory and parts manuals, there is still a lot I've learned in this forum.

Engine is 89 OMC 2.3L with OMC drive.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

After reading through this thread, I have a question. My boat was winterized at a dealer (about 225 miles away). They sell Bayliner and work on OMC. Since they changed the gear lube during the winterization, would I be able to open the dipstick and be able to verify it was refilled correctly? Would the air have worked its way up and give me a low level (if not filled correctly or fully)?

It never hurts to check (I learned that the hard way). If it shows low, you know you have an issue. If it shows full, nothing is lost (or guaranteed).

In order to prevent problems on the water, I suggest you start it on muffs at home and run it at idle speed until the engine warms up. The drive spins anytime the engine is running; the low speed operation should encourage any trapped air bubbles to rise to the top. After warming it up, turn it off and check the level again.
Be sure to tighten the dipstick plug properly after checking to ensure a good seal.

Good Luck!

 

[DBreskin]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

We have the exact same boat, but mine comes with a Cone clutch? Could customers back then order which one they wanted or was wither yours or mine swaped?

Let me know if you do the SEI conversion? I think I am screwed on that route since the cone clutches are not an option for the SEI conversion. So starting to look which one I can mount.

Noe

I doubt customers could choose between dog or cone clutch style. Mine was not swapped, and it was an early 1992 model; it has some 1991 features on it like the ventilators on the side of the boat instead of the back.

After opening my drive up, it seems the only damage was to the lower pinion bearing in the upper housing. I'm replacing both pinion bearings just in case; and I also have to replace the pinion bearing carrier. I think this is the best and least-cost option for me.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

If the mechanic would have had the dipstick out and just resting on the threads as is the normal filling procedure this would have never happened...
He never checked the level!

Whenever i fill a Cobra i let it set for several hours with the dipstick just setting on the threads then check the level again.Run it,wait an hour or so and check again.

I have never had one come back but i make sure it is full..

He should make it right but i sure would not have him doing the repairs..

 

[Juniinc]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

1. Don't let that moron touch your boat again.
2. Check the dip stick as frequent as possible.
3. If U want things done right, do it yourself.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

1. Don't let that moron touch your boat again.
2. Check the dip stick as frequent as possible.
3. U want the things done right, do it yourself.

AND,

if you;re going to do your own oil changes on a Cobra,


ENSURE that you know how much oil it holds. Most of them hold 64 oz of oil unless you have an 87-89 King Cobra (460) then it holds 108oz etc....... Some (four-banger) models hold 60 oz.

Shorting yourself only 4 or 5 oz of oil may be all that's required to uncover the upper gears/bearings.


Ensure that it is completely drained and fill it CORRECTLY with the right amount.


This is why OMC recommends filling a Dog-clutch Cobra (from the recommended "fill-port" ) with the dipstick "resting" on the threads...... It "allows for a slight over-fill" [their words]

 

[Noe de la Garza]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

I doubt customers could choose between dog or cone clutch style. Mine was not swapped, and it was an early 1992 model; it has some 1991 features on it like the ventilators on the side of the boat instead of the back.

After opening my drive up, it seems the only damage was to the lower pinion bearing in the upper housing. I'm replacing both pinion bearings just in case; and I also have to replace the pinion bearing carrier. I think this is the best and least-cost option for me.

Mine is also a early 1992. My title says it was built 1991, engine etc 1992. Maybe mine was swapped. I take mine to the shop tomorrow hopefully its not nothing dramatic.

Thanks

Noe

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

Mine is also a early 1992. My title says it was built 1991, engine etc 1992. Maybe mine was swapped. I take mine to the shop tomorrow hopefully its not nothing dramatic.

Thanks

Noe

Built in early 92 then chances are it is a 91 or even a 1990 engine and drive.
The title means nothing.The engine and drive serial tells the story.

Anyway,I would be asking if they know that a Cobra is not filled like a Merc..

 

[DBreskin]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

So here we are a month later and I thought I'd let you all know what has happened.

Figuring I had little to lose, I let the mechanic that caused the damage try to fix it. Even if he failed I'd be no worse off.

He opened the drive to find the pinion bearings in the upper half had seized. He agreed to replace them for free. He borrowed the OMC special tools from someone and the manual from me. The pinion bearing carrier also had to be replaced. While he had it open he saw the upper half water cavity housing was corroded so I bought one from Sierra and had him put it in (no labor charge, isn't that nice of him?).

He returned the assembled drive to me dry, without pressure testing it. I filled it with lube last week (the right way) and noticed the lube he had put in was significantly different in color; I wonder if he'd also used the wrong type of lube.

I purchased the lube from West Marine. I knew the drive was supposed to hold 64 ounces of lube so that's what I bought. It took all 64 ounces and I had to go back to the store and buy another quart. It took about 4 ounces more, 68 in total. I wonder if West Marine is shorting us on the quantity of lube i the bottle; even though it's labeled 32 ounces maybe it really has only 30 ounces in the container.

While the drive was off I did a full transom service (bellows, etc.) and put on a new trim sending unit. I also painted the drive and pivot housing.

I went out yesterday for the first time and all seems well. I expect I'll need to take it out a few times before I know if the drive leaks, or if the gears were set up properly. I'll check the oil drain plugs from time to time to look for metal shavings/fragments.

Wish me luck!

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: OMC Cobra drive seized, now what?

Doesn't sound too painful...good luck. Hope all works out fine.