Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

[longstand]

Hello,

I have notice today that my Ball gear on my OMC Sterndrive looks like this:

Why do all the work of removing the whole sterndrive and shaft. If i could carefully weld it and round the tip off the ball gears?

and yes. slowly weld so it the shaft don't get hot.

Any suggestion..

I have remove the whole stern-drive before to replace the water pump.. but nothing else.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

You don't need to remove the shaft if your seals are ok. Just be really careful prying the gears off the shaft (after you remove the retaining nut!) so as not to put too much pressure on the shaft. I replaced my ball gears without touching the shaft without problems. Ran it for 5-6 years before selling it and never had an issue with the drive whatsoever.

Don't try and run the boat with the drive in any position but fully down or you'll soon have new ball gears torn up like these old ones.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

Hello,

I have notice today that my Ball gear on my OMC Sterndrive looks like this:View attachment 222190

Why do all the work of removing the whole sterndrive and shaft. If i could carefully weld it and round the tip off the ball gears?

and yes. slowly weld so it the shaft don't get hot.

Any suggestion..

I have remove the whole stern-drive before to replace the water pump.. but nothing else.

Ayuh,.... I think yer odds of havin' Serviceable ball gears when yer done, is somewhere 'tween Zero, 'n None,...

 

[gm280]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

IF you have the proper equipment and knowledge to manufacture another ball gear, then I say go for it. Anything IS possible. However, if you don't have those capabilities, you would probably come out better purchasing a new one...if they are available! The reason I give a big "IF" to the beginning of my comment is I've seen some amazing capabilities on these iboat threads that truly are unbelievable. I've seen some boaters actually smelt down their own raw metals and then machine them for parts. So it all depends on your capabilities and equipment. Another way to look at this, if the part you have now is "toast", and it looks that way to me, then trying to re-weld it and machine it back to specs is possible. I mean after all it is not usable now, so you certainly are not going to lose anything by trying... JMHO!

 

[superbenk]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

Ball gears are readily available: OMC Sterndrive/Cobra Ball Gears - iboats

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

slowly weld so it the shaft don't get hot.

speed isn't what makes it hot. Good weld penetration is what will create the heat. Good weld= melted seal.

If you're just going to gob metal on there with some hobby mig welder, it won't last a day.

 

[longstand]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

EHHH.. damm it... if i going todo all this work. i should as well replace the water pump as i have experience on it.


WHY can Boat just be a Good boat and just work....without major service.. argg HAHAAHHA

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

EHHH.. damm it... if i going todo all this work. i should as well replace the water pump as i have experience on it.


WHY can Boat just be a Good boat and just work....without major service.. argg HAHAAHHA

When you find out please let the rest of us know.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

1983 was a long time ago, what is reasonable to expect?

 

[boobie]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

If the drive on those units was Never run in any kind of tilted position and the housing alignment was good, they will last longer than the whole boat. Been there.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

I replaced my ball gears twice. However I used the boat often. If you decide to attempt to weld them, you need to pull them first

 

[superbenk]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

Seems like a lot of work that's error prone just to save $100

 

[longstand]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

Nah.. I will just replace. the damm thing. I rather do it Correct the first time. Plus. with my Cheap Azz. I rather know how to perform the work my self. if i can't then i guest i have to spend some cash

 

[boobie]

Re: Weld Ball Gear To Perfection. Instead of Replacement

Just replace with new and be done with it. Just be sure to have your upper gear case and intermediate housing alignment checked.