PLEASE HELP!!! 1982 OMC Stern Drive 800 I/O

mlesmes

Recruit
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
1
Engine runs great but I am having trouble with the steering. I replaced the steering cable but the steering is still locked up. What else could it be and how much am I looking at to fix whatever part is broke?

Anyone work on these before?

If so, what are my possible problem parts at this point?

Thanks for your help!
 

Coors

Captain
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
3,367
Re: PLEASE HELP!!! 1982 OMC Stern Drive 800 I/O

unhook the cable, then try to swing drive back and forth by hand. That will tell the techs in here alot more. And they need model #'s on engine and drive.
 

Boomyal

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 16, 2003
Messages
12,072
Re: PLEASE HELP!!! 1982 OMC Stern Drive 800 I/O

If you have the thru transom cable and steering rod, then you do not have the intermediate steering gear and shaft, so you could disconnect the attachment on the side of the outdrive and try to swivel the O/D. If it does not swivel then you are bound up inside the swivel housing.

If you have OMC TruCourse steering? The double cable that has a drum at the front and the back?

You would have had to pull the steering shaft out, at the right rear of the intermediate housing. Did you check the forward bushing where the shaft rides in the IM housing? Did you put the rear bushings and spacers back in right? If you had the shaft out to replace the cable, it could not be seized due to corrosion or lack of lubrication.

To determine, remove the outdrive and carefully hold it aside. This will disengage the drive from the steering gear on the shaft. If the wheel does not turn very easily and smoothly, then your cable is binding or the shaft is binding.

If it does turn easily then your problem is in the swivel housing in the outdrive. You'll need to have the O/D removed anyway to address this.

Is this a saltwater boat?
 

fendersfender

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
317
Re: PLEASE HELP!!! 1982 OMC Stern Drive 800 I/O

i had same problem with mine last year (true-coarse steering)...it turned out to be steering gearbox on backside of motor...bottom output shaft was seized...i took apart and cleaned with emery paper, lubed it up real good and it works fine now....BUT...the year before, i had a no steering issue......it was caused by a bad gearset in upper gear housing, and evidently some metal pieces were lodged in steering gears in upper gearcase (hpoe its not the latter...its expensive!!!)
 
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