Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Just bought a 1985 Bayliner Ciera 5.0 OMC engine with stringer 800 outdrive. Please add me to your list.

In the meantime questions are : when lifting (tilting) motor it comes up hard and hits my swim platform - is there an adjusument to the height I can tilt outdrive?
it only tllts up or down when in neutral - is this normal??
Happy to be here ( sorry no pics yet)

Welcome! Yes, as southkogs said, when both lifting and lowering the drive make sure you are doing so in very small increments. This will help prolong the life of the flawed tilt system. With out a picture of your swim platform area its hard to say if what is happening is okay or not.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Alright...no one has given me a straight answer on this, but why have the Series 400 and 800 systems acquired this awful stigma? WHile I've been frustrated with sealing my unit I haven't had any serious problems with it. I like having ball gears instead of bellows and a universal joint and gimbal bearing that let in water and go bad anyway.

Sure OMC has been "out of business" but BRP Evinrude dealers still seem to be able to get parts and stock the basics like tune up parts and carb rebuild kits (though I source parts online due to cost which carries over to all brands of marine powertrain systems).

If I had to guess as to the reason, I would say its because most people nowadays who get into these drives end up acquiring something that is run down and needs a lot of repairs. This typically happens because they bought before researching and didnt realize what they were getting themselves into. So, instead of blaming their inexperience, they blame the drive that wasnt taken care of.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

If I had to guess as to the reason, I would say its because most people nowadays who get into these drives end up acquiring something that is run down and needs a lot of repairs. This typically happens because they bought before researching and didnt realize what they were getting themselves into. So, instead of blaming their inexperience, they blame the drive that wasnt taken care of.

I would add too that the drives can be a little finicky, and parts are getting more difficult to deal with. If you're a Stringer owner, you're a mechanic - like it or not.

That said, I do like how quiet the drive is and how well it turns. I don't know about the 400 or 800 series but the immediate power supply in gear of the electric shift is fantastic. I actually really like the drive system ... I just have to spend a little too much time in the garage with it

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

If you're a Stringer owner, you're a mechanic - like it or not.

I love this!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

why have the Series 400 and 800 systems acquired this awful stigma?

brand new replacement drive for Mercruiser Alpha 1: $1295 includes 3 year no fault warranty
brand new replacement OMC mechanical 400/800: $5800 includes 30 day parts replacement warranty

Mercruiser lower shift cable: $45 in stock everywhere
OMC Shift cable: $800 sporadically available

 

[superbenk]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

brand new replacement drive for Mercruiser Alpha 1: $1295 includes 3 year no fault warranty
brand new replacement OMC mechanical 400/800: $5800 includes 30 day parts replacement warranty

Mercruiser lower shift cable: $45 in stock everywhere
OMC Shift cable: $800 sporadically available

True, but I think the stigma makes it seem like people think the OMC Stringer drive is inherently junk. From my experience with mine, I'd say that's definitely not the case (with the exception of the tilt mechanism). The whole system is relatively simple and pretty darn solid from what I can see.

But there's no getting around the fact that the drive has been out of production for ~27 yrs and parts are getting hard to find & expensive outside routine maintenance stuff. It's frustrating that a major issue like gears or casing breaking could completely junk my boat. I was looking for some replacement bushings for my front motor mount jackscrew & they're not available anywhere. Looks like I may have to come up with something myself or have one custom made.

 

[doneast]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Thanks for answer and the idea of adding a piano hinge on my swim platform.

Still asking if normal that the outdrive (800) will only tilt when in neutral???
Also there is a great dig screw head (bigger than others) i notices near top -near bellows is this a plave to put oil??

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

thats the oil fill and check for the intermediate housing

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Could you make a Facebook group for this brotherhood of OMC sterndrive owners?

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Could you make a Facebook group for this brotherhood of OMC sterndrive owners?

Great idea! Im on it!

*Edit* Looks like I need to have an existing friend from iboats to add to make the group? F14, I looked you up on Facebook and added you as a friend. My name is Kevin Thompson. Once you accept my request Ill create the group and add you. Then Ill post the link for others to join in.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Thanks for answer and the idea of adding a piano hinge on my swim platform.

Still asking if normal that the outdrive (800) will only tilt when in neutral???
Also there is a great dig screw head (bigger than others) i notices near top -near bellows is this a plave to put oil??

I guess Im confused by your question. Are you trying to tilt the drive up while the boat is running in neutral or turned off in neutral? If running, never ever tilt the drive when the boat is running. If the boat is turned off, then why would you have it off and not in neutral?

 

[doneast]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Ok i will try to explain my boat is in a slip in a canal that has only about 3-4 feet of water - in order to get out of the canal to my lake, I have to tilt the foot up a bit while motoring out to the lake. Then i can put the foot down and run as usual. If i want to lift (tilt) the foot up whaile motoring to the lake (in gear and running) it does not seem to tilt. I have to shift to neutral (while engine is runiing) then I can tilt the motor (either up or down). My questiuon is is this normal does the shift position have to be in neutral in order to tilt the motor up or down??

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

........ My questiuon is is this normal does the shift position have to be in neutral in order to tilt the motor up or down??

Not for my 800, but then mine is a bit of a morphodite, so who knows? It is a 1979 hydro-mechanical drive mated to a 1975 electric shift intermediate housing.

Also I have occasionally raised my outdrive a few degrees (maybe 15-20?), at low speeds, to get out of shallow water. My ball gears are now 37 years old with only a small amount of flattening on the ball extrusions.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Alright! The Facebook Group has been made. Its called "OMC Stringer Sterndrive Owners Club". Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/groups/277902375646149/

Im posting up a bunch of random photos Ive taken over the years. If you have some saved up please add them.

 

[doneast]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

yhanks but dont do Facebook

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

yhanks but dont do Facebook

Thats too bad doneast. We sure could use all the members we could get. Its easy to setup and could potentially be a great resource for any future inquiries into your setup.

 

[vicjunkie]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

add me 85 bayliner 2750 ciera stringer 800. have had my times with this unit, just installed a used upper $600.00, running good as of now. plan on new impeller this next season

 

[Nivekt]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

add me 85 bayliner 2750 ciera stringer 800. have had my times with this unit, just installed a used upper $600.00, running good as of now. plan on new impeller this next season

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Welcome vicjunkie! Glad to have you with us. Come join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/277902375646149/

 

[Jammer864]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Is $1500 for a brand new in box, never used lower for a Stringer 800 mechanical a good price? Guy claims it was bought new last year and has receipt to prove it.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Stringer 400 & 800 Hydro and Full mechanical friends group

Is $1500 for a brand new in box, never used lower for a Stringer 800 mechanical a good price? Guy claims it was bought new last year and has receipt to prove it.

For a lower - depending on where you are, it's about even money vs. buying a remanufactured lower. Make sure the warranty would still be valid and it might be a decent deal.

If the warranty wouldn't transfer, I'd go ahead and pay the extra couple hundred.