OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starboard side?

[rickryder]

Hello everyone,
I am looking to buy a bigger boat its a 87 Renkin cuddy OMC 135 Cobra outdrive and I noticed some oil leaking out of a very small hole in the lower unit just above the water intake screen at about 2 o'clock. I see another little hole below the screen also but its dry. Can some one explain to me what the holes are for and why would oil be weaping from it. The drive is in its fully raised position and I don't know how long its been sitting like that. I see the belloows are done also and some other minor things that need attention. I will be going back to look again at it and hear it run , do compression test ect.

Any input on this model boat would be great. Thanks!

 

[sea wolf]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

If the bellows are shot then you'll need a new gimbal bearing & maybe u-joints. The oil leak is probably a bad seal which means a tear down. Have it pressure & vacuum tested. I'll tell u straight up that you can expect trouble with the shift system on that Cobra. It goes with the territory. I wouldn't even think about buying that boat without a sea trial to see if it's shifting properly. If u get to test it out & hear a bump from the lower unit, trust me. Walk away.

 

[rickryder]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Thanks Sea Wolf from what the owner says he had the shifting trans rebuilt? Never heard of a shifting trans but then again I'm new to the boating world...The boat is pretty solid as far as floors hull and such and he asking $1300 or best offer boat and trailer so if I can get it for say 8-900 would it be worth it??

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

and he asking $1300 or best offer boat and trailer so if I can get it for say 8-900 would it be worth it??

Ayuh,.... If you buy it for $900., and it needs $1500. in outdrive repairs,...

Is it worth it,..??

 

[rickryder]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Hmmm well I'll have to see if this guy has any recipts fot the rebuild on the outdrive like he said.....I can work on my own things I have worked in the automotive field for years and can rebuild motors auto trans rear diffs etc. so labor is not a factor just buying parts...What I don't get is if he had the outdrive rebuilt they should have replaced the bellows and I see wear holes in the bottom of them....Maybe I should wait for something better to come along from what I have been reading Cobras are not the best choice.. You guys are the experts on boats so I will take your warnings!

 

[sea wolf]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

If he replaced the lower gearset & the shift cable, then it may be worth it. Ask him for proof on both repairs. What bellows has the hole? The exhaust bellows {the bottom one} has slits on the bottom. If it's the u-joint bellows, that's a problem.

 

[rickryder]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

It's the bottom bellows there are what look to be wear spots along the bottom...I guess they are suposed to be there?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Yes they are.

 

[rickryder]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Still I would like to know what the small holes on the starboard side of the lower unit are for and why oil is weeping from the top one

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Those are just drains for water cavities so you don't get freeze damage. The reason oil is leaking out is because there is a bad seal.

 

[contractorguy]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Ya.. water runs out of those holes on mine.

I wonder how many people who bash OMC's ever really had one?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

It's the bottom bellows there are what look to be wear spots along the bottom...I guess they are suposed to be there?

That's how the exhaust bellows are designed.

The exhaust bellows is not really even required to be there. My 460 King Cobra ran for about 15 years with no exhaust bellows installed at all!

the owner says he had the shifting trans rebuilt? Never heard of a shifting trans

Neither have any of us. I would say the guy knows little of what he speaks!!


Having done this already (more or less), even if it was free, it might not be a "good" deal.

Maybe I should wait for something better to come along from what I have been reading Cobras are not the best choice..

Yes. Since OMC has been out of business for more than 10 years and the after market parts sources will eventually "dry up", This is what I would suggest.

 

[rickryder]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Those are just drains for water cavities so you don't get freeze damage. The reason oil is leaking out is because there is a bad seal.

What seal would that be and how bad is it to change? I'm pretty handy with a wrench and a service manual

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starbord side?

Ill probably end up eating these words but I bought a boat with a 5.7 OMC / Cobra and I had to put a new engine in last month.

I have not had any problems finding parts. There are 3 places local to me that stock a lot of OMC parts and can order whatever else.

And if your good online I'm sure you can find anything else there too.
I cant sppeak for a K Cobra or anything just my cobra.

Sterndrive.info is crazy on shipping but they seem to have all the drive parts as well as some other sites I have saw.

One of the local places I go to is a Pro Marine. When I needed a new coupler and everyone in town had to order them I called them and they had 8 sitting there.

They had the Prestolite (screw cap) tune up kit, and zincs in stock too. They have the Delco electronic dist in stock to convert to electronic IGN, and they gave me the wiring diagrams to wire it up without the ESA.


The only problem I see is that finding mechanics to work on OMC is VERY hard to do.

Here in SW FLA there are more marine mechanics then churches. And I called TONS of them and only 3 places within 30 miles will work on an OMC and one of the guys was a total fraud.

 

[rickryder]

Re: OMC Cobra lower unit small holes on starboard side?

Thanks for all the input regarding this boat....I went back and tried to hear it run but no go took compression test 2 bad cylinders...so much for that! I'm glad I did some research about looking at boats here on the forums because if you don't follow some basic rules on purchasing a cheep boat it will turn into an expensive boat real quickly!