OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

[shawnb]

Great forum, used it for reference for a couple years now, but need some clarity if possible.?

I have a 1983 stringer 3.8L. I want to ONLY replace the somewhat worn pinion drive shaft and reseal the upper. Can I just press the shaft from the housing and the gear off the shaft and press them on a new driveshaft without any special procedures or tools. (keeping and reusing bearings and shims)

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

Yes

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

Thank you for the good news. Just for general knowledge, checking rolling torque and the use of shimming tools are only needed if the bearings are removed/replaced?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

You reusing everything ? Be careful of the shims and just switch it all over to the new shaft.

What's worn out the splines ? If yes hows the other shaft the water pump one?

Splines worn on that one also ?

If your replacing the gears then you should replace them as a set, and or the bearing then you have to do the measuring and follow the book exactly.

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

The gears and bearings are good and will be reused.

I replaced the water pump shaft last season and knew the splines were worn on the upper shaft but I was to intimidated to attack it.

The water pump shaft is still good.

Thank You.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

Just did what you are doing but my coupler went also, you ever check yours ?

Want the link how to do it?

PS guy in texas has the shaft 69 bucks or so, e-bay. Thats where i got mine new.

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

I saw the shaft for sale on Ebay. I don't want to sound too ignorant, but what is the coupler you are talking about? I will take the link on the repair of it though.

Wish I had something to contribute to this forum, but I am just a novice mechanic trying to learn as I go.

I appreciate it!

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

May i first welcome you aboard !

The ball gear shaft that passes thru the transom is the drive shaft. It' has splines on it that connect to a coupler on the fly wheel.

Understand ?

Mine stripped out after i replaced the pinion and water pump shaft.

The only way to check the coupler is to pull the motor, it's a day job.

Still want me to continue.

You can read up on my trials and tribulations bye doing a search for "the tow of shame" .

I'll be back tomorrow grasshopper if you still wish to be schooled on the stringer drive.

Please post what manual you are using ?

Good night, old geezers such as myself do have to get some rest.

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

Hopefully the coupler is not an issue cause that sounds potentially far fecthed for me to do.

I am working with a Clymer manual.

Rest well!

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

OK young man leave it alone. If you need any more help just post away.

God luck in all your endeavors.

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

For those that have replaced the upper pinion shaft, what was used to support the pinion gear in order to press it off the shaft. That is obviously considering the absence of the "special" OMC support for that procedure.
I see there is only a 1/4' or so gap between the gear and the housing.


Thanks!

 

[dan t.]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

I did this swap about 12 years ago using a seloc manual, didnt have any trouble, as far as I can remember I used an ordanary bearing splitter.it was a long trip back on the kicker when that shaft stripped the spline to the water pump shaft

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

I swear it was so unremarkable that i used the vice to hold it. I used a socket on both sides, what manual you using the seloc 1964-86' omc sterndrives # 3400 in the right hand corner front page.

Page 10-58 figure 1,2,3 show it but i don't have no arbor press and didn't need it.

I posted before about the shims they are like gold to you right now.

DO NOT MESS THEM UP.

You ordered the reseal kit for the upper you are going to need the new o-rings?

Soak them in oil before you install them.

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

I am using the Clymer manual. I would love to do this myself. I took the housing to a local auto/machine shop and they said that they could press the existing shaft out and the new one in for me but i dont know if i can trust them. Plus if I can save a few bucks doing it myself (correctly), then that would be a bonus. Got the seal kit and just bought a shaft off ebay.

Could you elaborate on your process for switching the shafts without a press please. I don't want to ruin or break anything.

P.S. I have my shims safely stashed away.

Thanks!

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

I am using the Clymer manual. I would love to do this myself. I took the housing to a local auto/machine shop and they said that they could press the existing shaft out and the new one in for me but i dont know if i can trust them. Plus if I can save a few bucks doing it myself (correctly), then that would be a bonus. Got the seal kit and just bought a shaft off ebay.

Could you elaborate on your process for switching the shafts without a press please. I don't want to ruin or break anything.

P.S. I have my shims safely stashed away.

Thanks!

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

I went back and saw that you did indeed post you were using the clymer manual and i apologize for asking that question twice.

I laid it on the table after removing the top nut, and place a block of wood on the shaft and tapped it right out.

But you wont be reusing the old shaft so wood or no wood just tap it.

A word of caution about hammers and precision machine parts, use a small hammer i use a ball preen hammer, and tap, that doesn't mean hit it like cheating wife understand??

Another small matter why a clymer manual worst pos on the market original factory manual is the best but i schooled myself on this equipment with a Seloc, i posted the number and years above in a previous post.

They are sold everywhere and i bought mine in West marine.

Wish i could scan the pages and post them maybe you can PM dan t and he can scan the page i posted and the figures.

This was rather un-remarkable compared to some of the stuff concerning this setup.

Whatever you do, do not do harm the the bearing carrier, it's sturdy but don't mess it up.

I already gave away my only spare. Stupid me the guy never even sent me the 14 dollars in shipping i spent to send him an entire upper gear setup with the ball gear and shaft.

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

Big thanks to "Chiefalen" for holding my hand through this. I successfully tapped the shaft from the gear and the shaft from the housing. However, what is the trick to removing the lower bearing from the shaft. I am tiptoeing around this so I don't create a broken mess.

As for the install of the assembly after the new shaft gets here, can I use the "tap" method to put it back together?

I would like to just put new seals on the ball gear shaft, can the hammer be applied here as well?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

As to the seals i guess you don't have a seal installer i used a pipe, the same size.

The bearing don't want to come off or just the bottom race? They make a bearing splitter tool.

You know what i think i just pryed it slowly off, shoot the race all around with pb blaster. You know been a while ,you got a vice place wood on the jaws and clamp it in the vice and twist it off. Don't mess up the races and the bearing or your gonna be sorry latter. Don't over tighten it in the vice.

After you get it off soak it in oil before installing it on the new shaft.

Yes the tap method remember this ain't a cheating wife your smacking with the hammer.

Whats with the carb that you mentioned in the pm it a 4 or 2 barrel?

 

[shawnb]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

2 bbl. rochester

 

[chiefalen]

Re: OMC Stringer upper pinion shaft

When was the last time the boat was run?? Kit is cheap 15 bucks maybe less. Don't get a merc carb kit. You need the omc one. They might have it here, or Ebasic power. they are on the net also.

Lets talk about it, when your ready to try and run it or you did already, and it's running bad??

Ether way i talk you thru it. When it's time.