omc cobra outdrive upper gearbox question

[slag]

bought a boat with omc cobra outdrive and like an idiot, didn't check the outdrive fluid and seized up the upper carrier bearing. I ended up pressing on a new water pump shaft bearing and carrier bearing and replacing all the seals and orings and flushed out my lower unit completely until no more metal came out. I then changed the fluid 3 times to ensure no other particles came out and took it out to the lake.

My outdrive has a hum to it which I'm not sure if its normal or not, but the main question is, should my upper gearcase cover, the one held on with 4 bolts that has an Oring on it, get hot while under load? I checked my fluid level and its spot on and there is no water in the outdrive and my engine is running like a top at just the right temp, but my upper bearing cover gets hot enough to where I cant hold my hand on it for more than a few seconds. As soon as we stop, the cover goes back under the water and cools off quickly, but while under way, its getting warm.

Normal?

Ideas?

I reshimmed the carrier bearing gear with the plastic shims to the other one exactly like I took it off and it turned well and meshed very well with no noises. My upper shaft bearing sounded and felt really good as well.

This is an 87 bayliner with the 2.3 ford engine and omc cobra outdrive setup. It shifts very well and the engine is tuned up perfectly.
Thanks in advance..

Slag

 

[dubs283]

Re: omc cobra outdrive upper gearbox question

did you shim the new gears to the specification in the OEM manual, and use the special tools required to do so?

if you shimmed new gears using exactly the same shims for the old gears, without checking the dimensions, the odds of you getting the specification is very slim

 

[slag]

Re: omc cobra outdrive upper gearbox question

I didn't take that gear out--the one that needs shimmed with the special tool. I took the driveshaft carrier bearing out and all it needs to be shimmed with is the plastic shims that go near the u-joints where it bolts to the outdrive according to the manual.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: omc cobra outdrive upper gearbox question

Getting warm is normal but too hot to touch is not.The humming noise is not normal either.