OMC Steering cable

[southkogs]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Okay - that makes sense then! '78 you can run on muffs, right? If so, then the tell-tale is a good sign the impeller is probably working. On mine, that's not the case.

Yes, the swivel not being greased can cause you to overheat.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Yes I was on muffs. Im 99% sure its the swivel housing that is my problem. Ive been working on that for a while. Just cant get it to take grease. I think its been a LONG time since its been greased.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Well if you go to check the impeller, it will be best to do that with the drive off. This will allow you to kill several birds with one stone. You will have access to the swivel housing and zerk fitting and you will have access to the steering shaft which you will need to pull to be able to lube the TruCourse steering cable. In the meantime you should try to get a new little nylon cup bushing that fits into the forward steering shaft support hole, in the intermediate housing. It's a cheap little part that I can almost guarantee is torn up after all these years. It aids in keeping the shaft rotating in straight plane.

Whereas an ungreased swivel housing might be allowing cooling water to bypass, I doubt it is responsible for your stiff steering. Don't discount the effects of a 36 year old, unlubricated steering cable. With all these aging TruCourse systems still out there, I am surprised that this is not a bigger subject on the forum.

IMHO, this would also be a good time to grab an OMC flush fitting that replaces the right side trunion cap. Muffs are a total PITA. They may have them here on iboats or I see them all the time on ebay.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Boomyal, you (and this stubborn swivel housing) have convinced me to take the outdrive off. I need to learn how to do it anyways. I will attempt it next weekend. I have a repair manual, and will follow it closely, but is there anything in particular (hints, comments, warnings, etc) you want to tell me?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Oviously, you have to pull the shift cable. It seems to be daunting but pretty easy once you understand it's removal from the shift converter. We can cover that later.

The drive comes off it's trunions from the full upright position. Make sure you have the outdrive pointed straight ahead. You should already have your cable disconnected and its seal pulled loose from the hole in the transom. Have the cable layed out straight in the boat so when you pull the outdrive away, the cable will not hang up on anything. It maybe a good idea to have someone up in the boat to feed it out. You do not want to harm that cable. Take extra care when re-installing it that you do not kink it and for that matter when you pull it out of the passageways while seperating the lower from the upper.

Do not mix the trunnion caps of when you remove them and be carefull of the trunnion bearings. When re-installing, that is a perfect time to install the flush fitting and to toss your muffs in the trash.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

I'm looking for parts online, and having a hard time finding the correct parts. My goal with this sterndrive removal will be to service the swivel housing gaskets, inspect the impeller, and lube the tru course cable ways ,replace the gromet thing you're talking about at the end of the steering shaft, and install the flush mount thing you recommend over the muffs. Do you have a recommendation on where to get these parts? and maybe some help finding them?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Here are a couple of links for the flush adapter. The first one is for an OEM OMC kit. I have seen them cheaper.

173556 0173556 Flushing Adaptor Kit OMC | eBay

The second is a 'remanufactured'. I don't like the looks of it. It has a plastic cap, does not come with the Male/Male hose adapter, does not look finished and I don't see any gaskets.

172367 OMC 017267 Flush Kit for Vintage Late 60's Early 70's Stringer Drives | eBay

There might be other options. Google the part numbers in the first link and check here on iboats. I'll look for the forward steering shaft bushing. It is only a $.50 affair.

If push comes to shove you can call Steve Ryan an Ryan's marine, in Portland Oregon. He will know exactly what you want and he ships all over the country. 503 282 8807

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Oh sweet I will google those, and probably call him this week.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

ok I found the swivel housing seal, its on its way. I can't find that bushing you're talking about. I've seen it on ebay but only with the entire shaft which is about 40-60 bucks. Can you find it here? http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=pr9jku0vmpks48cc8j7r4masg5&catalog_id=0&siteid=1

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Steering cable

ok I found the swivel housing seal, its on its way. I can't find that bushing you're talking about. I've seen it on ebay but only with the entire shaft which is about 40-60 bucks. Can you find it here? http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=pr9jku0vmpks48cc8j7r4masg5&catalog_id=0&siteid=1

That appears to be site for outboard motors.

 

[southkogs]

Re: OMC Steering cable

That appears to be site for outboard motors.

Gotta' hit Stern Drive in the drop down upper left.

ok I found the swivel housing seal, its on its way. I can't find that bushing you're talking about. I've seen it on ebay but only with the entire shaft which is about 40-60 bucks. Can you find it here? http://shop2.evinrude.com/Index.aspx?s1=pr9jku0vmpks48cc8j7r4masg5&catalog_id=0&siteid=1

I'm not sure which engine is yours - go into the upper gear case view for your drive and #1 should be the part you're lookin' for. Probably NLA (mine is). That'll give you the part number though and you can search around.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Number one is a bushing for the gear case housing. Im referring to the bushing boomyal said goes on the steering shaft where it terminates inside the transom.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

I THINK what boomyal was referring to is the black plastic bushing in this picture:

OMC Stringer 800 400 Steering Gear Shaft Pulley 908461 908020 Tru Course 73' 86' | eBay

Am I correct Boomyal?

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Hey guys. I just went outside to begin pulling this drive off and im stuck before ive even started. I found the shift box, but it looks NOTHING like the one in my service manual. Zero. I have no idea where to start.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

Ok im making progress, its the same basic concept as in the manual, just looks nothing like it. Lol

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Steering cable

take the battery out of the boat before messing with the cable. there are bare 12V+ terminals all over that engine and the cable wires are ground.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

yes battery is out. I can't seem to get the shift cable through the transom. I'm really trying not to force it, but I'm pulling, and my buddy is pushing, and it doesn't want to budge.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Steering cable

let it soak in WD40 or similar for a while. I use a seal pick to carefully clean around the hole.
Wash the lube off the cable (part inside the boat at least) with soap and water after the repair.

I didn't follow this whole thread, but you dont need to remove the drive completely to fix a steering issue. You just pull it back far enough to disengage the steering gears to see if the issue is in the drive side or the cable side.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

I got the cable through. The reason im removing the drive is because after taking the boat out it was overheating. The impeller and thermostat are working, And after some research I discovered that exhaust gases leaking through the swivel housing into the fresh water pulled up from the impeller is a common cause. I couldnt get grease into the swivel housing, so im taking the drive apart to fix that issue, and also to lube the trucourse cables.

 

[dhughes214]

Re: OMC Steering cable

OK! Drive is completely apart. Swivel was a mess. Grease in all the wrong places. Hard, dried grease where the fresh grease should have been. Seal was toast. I was very suspicious of the impeller replacement prior to me getting the boat, as the drive looked like it hadn't been apart in years. all the bolts were tough to get off. A lot of them required penetrating oil. Supposedly, the impeller was replaced the day before I picked up the boat. So I pulled the water pump to take a look, and this thing hasn't been touched in years. I was furious. I went to the previous owners house, and, without getting to graphic, I "convinced" him to give me some money back. We agreed on $100. so the good part is the boat only cost me $550 now. The bad part is, the bearing housing was cracked really bad. And when I tried to remove the water pump housing it broke completely. Thankfully, I found a housing on ebay for $50. So, all my seals and the new housing are on the way. Impeller is installed in housing, and ready to be put back together. As for my steering issue, after removing the drive, it is slightly easier to steer, but way tougher than it should be. So I'm sure a new bushing on the shaft, and lubing the cables will take care of it. So, my question now is about how I get the bearing and gear out of the old bearing housing. Should I post a new thread for this? Since we are nowhere near my "omc steering cable" title anymore? I want to thank everyone again for their help. Especially Howard, boomyal, and southkogs. Even after all this work, and redoing the interior, I will only be into the boat for about $1100-$1200. I think it will easily be worth $2200-$2500. And should be problem free for quite some time.