water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

[toben]

I have an 80's bayliner with a 2.3L omc cobra inboard.

It has been parked in a garage for 4-5 years and I am trying to get it ready to go.

After cleaning things out and putting the water ear muff things on it I managed to get the engine going.

There was what looked like a screw on the side of the boat opposite the cobra symbol on the other side. My father in law decided to unscrew this and it was completely loose. In fact when we tried to screw it back in there is nothing to hold it in.

When the water hose is on and the engine runs this pumps out a lot of water.

So is there a way to attach the screw thing or is it unnecessary? Should there just be a hole in the engine that pumps out water? Was it just placed there when the boat was winterized 4-5 years ago?

After reading through some forums I am wondering if this is the exhaust defuser for water coming from the engine?

What happens if I take the boat for skiing without fixing this hole?

Here is a picture that looks like my engine. The hole I am concerned about is on the opposite side of the engine where the cobra symbol is.

 

[Coors]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

The mystery screw strikes again.
The plate that useless screw attaches to, has fallen down in the water jacket.
Involves taking out drive apart.
OMC manuals can be bought at Ebay.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Well,

You don't really have to "take the drive apart". You do have to REMOVE the drive to get to that area. Hopefully the little threaded plate is still just sitting in there and you can use a pair of needle-nose pliers to hold it up there whilst you screw the screw back on !!! Put a little epoxy over the screw slot so someone can't do that again!!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

What happens if I take the boat for skiing without fixing this hole?

Ayuh,....

It'll Overheat from lack of water if you run it....
If you don't fix the Leak on the Motor,...
You could Sink your boat,...As well as possibly overheat the motor,...

 

[sea wolf]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Give your father-in-law a slap upside the head with your prop & don't run it till it's fixed.

 

[toben]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

I tried to take the plate off above it to reach it and I found the distributor cap. Do I take the distributor cap off or go in above that?

Im supposed to take a group of people boating today. What are my chances of getting in - attaching the plate and getting it back together without a manual?

 

[Bondo]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

I tried to take the plate off above it to reach it and I found the distributor cap. Do I take the distributor cap off or go in above that?

What the 'ell are you talking about,..??..??..??

The Lower Unit has to be pulled to get the retainer for the Outdrive Screw,.....
And,...
I'm just Guessing, but the Hole in the Motor, is Probably where the Block Drain Plug goes.......

 

[toben]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Here is the screw that came out.

So do I take the outdrive assembly off, come in from the side that was attached to the boat and hold the plate up with needle nose pliers?

What screws, bolts do I need to take off to remove this?

(Not my actual engine, just a pic I found on the internet)

 

[Bondo]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

So do I take the outdrive assembly off, come in from the side that was attached to the boat and hold the plate up with needle nose pliers?

Ayuh..

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Here is the screw that came out.

So do I take the outdrive assembly off, come in from the side that was attached to the boat and hold the plate up with needle nose pliers?

What screws, bolts do I need to take off to remove this?

(Not my actual engine, just a pic I found on the internet)

That's a great picture!

It shows where 3 of the 6 nuts are that have to be removed to pull the drive. just left, 2 above and 1 below the little yellow circle you have around the "screw" someone removed.

you remove all 6 of them, and the thru-bolt that goes thru the hole in the lower right and pull the whole thing off.

Once the drive is off you'll see where the little plate goes.

Don't take this wrong but, from your description it doesn't appear that you may be capable of doing this successfully. If that's so, you might want to take it to someone that is.


Regards,


Rick

 

[toben]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Ok I got it fixed! Thanks for the help.

How tight do I want that screw?

Also I lost some of what I think is upper transmission fluid when I took the plate off the top of the outer assembly. The transom was up so some leaked out.


What kind of fluid should I buy?

Can I get it at an autoparts store as the local marina a closed today.

Can I use lower unit transmission fluid for just today as I have some on hand?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Congrats!

It needs to be tight enough to stay. It should never be removed. The OMC service manual doesn't even mention it.

You should drain a little fluid from the drive and see if it's clear. If it isn't it should probably be replaced.

Drain it from the bottom plug. Fill it from the MIDDLE (FILL) plug

DO NOT ever FILL IT FROM ANY PLUG AT THE TOP! DO NOT! DO NOT! DO NOT! (did I make that clear?)

If you just replace what you lost, you can probably just use 75W-90 gear lube. Most people like to use synthetic when they replace. I like Merc HP lube. Some like Mobil1 synthetic gear lube. Don't mix the two. (syn/non-syn)

Cheers,

Rick

 

[toben]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Thanks

Now where are these plugs you mention?

I lost fluid when I took the top plate off the upper unit. The plate has 4 bolts and a screw in the middle.

 

[marada1]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

The screw in the middle of the plate is a dipstick. Lower the drive untill it is level then check fluid level with the dipstick. The plugs are on the starboard (Drivers) side. One on the very bottom (propshaft housing), one about halfway up, just above the anti-cavitation plate (this is the fill plug). If you are just topping off you can do that from the dipstick hole. If you drain and refill alwasys use the one on the side (fill)

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Well,

I hope you didn't damage the top O-ring. there's a plug in the top (that includes the dipstick)

There's 2 plugs on the starboard side. one at the bottom. takes a large blade type screwdriver to remove/replace.

There's good pictures here: http://www.sterndrive.info/id271.html and here: http://www.sterndrive.info/id270.html

They actually have you filling the lower using the drain port and when it's full (the lower) they have you cap the drain hole and continue filling from the middle hole.

The OMC Cobra service manual is VERY SPECIFIC..... fill from the "Middle" hole only. I suspect that you could fill it from the bottom until the oil appears at the middle and then continue using the middle port until oil is at the full mark on the dip stick, (dipstick resting on top....not screwed in) (subsequent checks are done with it screwed all the way in)

But the OMC manual IMHO indicates he right way to do it.

IF you fill it all the way using the very bottom (drain) port, YOU WILL destroy the drive. period. It will trap a bubble that will uncover the upper gears and run them dry. You'll make it about half-way around the lake then weld the upper gears. (another one of those Don't DO it x3s)


edit....True, you pour in some makeup oil in the top if it's not a lot... Check it with the dip stick screwed in all the way. (you only check resting on top (not screwed in) when filling it after an oil change

 

[toben]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

can the transom be up or does it have to be down to fill fluid.
Mine is hydrolic so I can't lower it

 

[marada1]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

Like stated earlier, drive should be down (as level as possible) to check oil.

 

[Lou C]

Re: water coming out side of engine on omc cobra 2.3 - problem?

On replacing the cursed screw, you need to remove the whole drive, upper and lower together. You do not need to seperate the upper from the lower. The plate with the threads that the screw has to screw into, most likely will be found in the bottom of a water passage in the upper unit. I'm attaching a pic so you can see it better. There is no way it can get into the lower unit, the water passage is a case passage with no connection to the lower unit.
Now about the oil change:
YOU MUST DO IT RIGHT, or suffer the $$$ consequences.
go to
www.croweymarine.com
look in product support
OMC
Cobra drives
and they have a nice section on the right way to pull the drive, reinstall and change the gear oil. Make sure all the gaskets for the plugs are there.
Here is anothe pic of the drain/fill plugs for the drive