What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

[F14CRAZY]

Many members suggest to others that they avoid buying or owning OMC drive systems. What's really so bad about them? The shift cables? The ball gears? Do OMC outboards suffer the same stigma? The parts all seem to be readily available through the aftermarket.

 

[Don S]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

As long as you have one and have nothing wrong with it, and you are happy with it, then nothing is wrong with it.
Now, if a new boater comes here asking about a boat that has an OMC in it, he is going to be told that the company has been out of buisness for over 10 years, no more techs to work on them if he can't do it himself. The stringer hasn't been made for 25 years, parts are wearing out, and not being manufactured. Cobra's are basically the same thing. Plenty of aftermarket stuff, but no OEM techs to work on them or OEM support of any kind.
Bombariea bought out the outboard side of OMC. Nobody covers the outdrives anymore.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

If you have a "Dog-Clutch" King Cobra (87-89 460), there are some parts that simply are not available anywhere at any price...... (unless you cannibalize a "junk" unit)

Do OMC outboards suffer the same stigma?

Well, this is an I/O forum so maybe that's a good one for that area........but it appears that BRP DOES support most or all of the OMC outboard engines.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

As long as you have one and have nothing wrong with it, and you are happy with it, then nothing is wrong with it.
Now, if a new boater comes here asking about a boat that has an OMC in it, he is going to be told that the company has been out of buisness for over 10 years, no more techs to work on them if he can't do it himself. The stringer hasn't been made for 25 years, parts are wearing out, and not being manufactured. Cobra's are basically the same thing. Plenty of aftermarket stuff, but no OEM techs to work on them or OEM support of any kind.
Bombariea bought out the outboard side of OMC. Nobody covers the outdrives anymore.

Lack of service techs is a valid point. And being old there definitely will be some wear and age deterioration.

To me though it's somewhat like discouraging someone from buying a '67 Mustang. The dealer techs aren't trained on them and you can't get parts from them either, but they're simple enough to work on yourself and plenty of aftermarket support.

I tore my Series 400 down to replace all the O rings and seals in it and it was probably a good experience, like I got to see how the switch gears can be potentially troublesome. But I mean there's just a few gears and bearings in there...not that much to go wrong.

If you have a "Dog-Clutch" King Cobra (87-89 460), there are some parts that simply are not available anywhere at any price...... (unless you cannibalize a "junk" unit)

Well, this is an I/O forum so maybe that's a good one for that area........but it appears that BRP DOES support most or all of the OMC outboard engines.

I've heard of some King Cobra 460 parts issues though being that I have a 3.0L I don't pay the best attention . That and manifolds. Do marine manifolds go bad due to internal corrosion?

 

[Seon]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

I asked the same question a couple of weeks ago when I had to decide whether to switch the OMC or keep it. Well being that I had to pull the 4.3L motor to change oil pan, I pulled the outdrive as well. It wasn't that difficult and it gave me an insight as to what's involved for future repairs.

 

[Don S]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

To me though it's somewhat like discouraging someone from buying a '67 Mustang. The dealer techs aren't trained on them and you can't get parts from them either, but they're simple enough to work on yourself and plenty of aftermarket support.

Trust me, an OMC stringer drive is not like working on a 67 Mustang. If you don't have special tools, forget outdrive work. A shift cable is like 400 bucks or something like that, and it takes a lot of work to replace one. Some of the parts are even expensive from what I have heard. Raw water pumps are another fun job on a stringer. Especially if it's ever been in salt water. Housings corrode away and can't be replaced, then you end up with exhaust and water leaks and overheats.
Like I said to begin with, if you have one and can deal with it, fine, but don't push something old, outdated, with no parts and tech support to a new boat owner that has never been around boats before, and has little mechanical experience. All it does is costs him money and pushes him away from boating.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

...

To me though it's somewhat like discouraging someone from buying a '67 Mustang. The dealer techs aren't trained on them and you can't get parts from them either, but they're simple enough to work on yourself and plenty of aftermarket support...

Do marine manifolds go bad due to internal corrosion?

1. Not the same AT ALL. The amount of aftermarket support for classic Mustangs is amazing. Aftermarket support for OMC is spotty, at best.

2. Yes, that's what happens to them.

 

[achris]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Seems to me that you are looking for justification for owning an OMC. You asked the question and were given some very valid answers, which you now choose to argue.

So, to appease you... What's so bad about them? Nothing.

Happy?

........

 

[jasoutside]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Well, in my short experience of being an OMC owner...

Any and all feedback that I received from marine techs and guys who are good with a wrench almost always included moans, groans, scoffs, vulgar language, mocking, sympathy and often times words like "well good luck with that", or, "you aren't going to keep that stringer are you". Now, to be fair I did hear from a couple of guys who own OMCs that parts are still available and that they were pretty easy to work on. But when you stack that against hundreds of years combined experience of guys who do this stuff for a living, the picture was pretty clear.

So, what is wrong with them? I have no idea but I sure wasn't going to wait around to find out! I pulled mine and sold it for more than what I paid for the entire boat. So I guess in that sense, I loved my OMC! And the guy who bought it was only too happy to have it as he knew OMCs, worked on them, and desperately needed the parts!

Cheers man!

 

[achris]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

.... and desperately needed the parts!

Cheers man!

That sort of says it all....

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Rebuilt a stringer four years ago,I should have shot myself.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Heck, I know seasoned boaters whose OMC's left a sour taste in their mouths...doesn't have to be newbies. 'nutcase

 

[Bondo]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Heck, I know seasoned boaters whose OMC's left a sour taste in their mouths...doesn't have to be newbies. 'nutcase

Ayuh,... True enough,..

Like Don said,... If a Boater wanders through here looking for Help, that Already owns an OMC,...
Generally speakin', He gets All the Help available here...
But,...
When a Newbie comes by, Thinkin' about buying an OMC,...
The Only logical, sensible, Honest answer is Run like 'ell Away from the deal...

We're all here to Help Boaters,+ Newbies alike,...
Telling a Newbie to buy an OMC is only going to create an Ex-boater,.. Probably rather Soon at that...

 

[carolynrose]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Here's one other thought. You can buy OMC equipped boats for a song because they are OMC. SEI makes a retrofit that is very reasonable. It it's a great boat but it's an OMC the price may make it worthwhile to retrofit.

 

[Don S]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Here's one other thought. You can buy OMC equipped boats for a song because they are OMC. SEI makes a retrofit that is very reasonable. It it's a great boat but it's an OMC the price may make it worthwhile to retrofit.

Not for the stringers.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

I've heard of some King Cobra 460 parts issues though being that I have a 3.0L I don't pay the best attention . That and manifolds. Do marine manifolds go bad due to internal corrosion?

Whaddaya talking about? Those marine manifolds last forever, don't they?????


There is a vertical drive shaft in the "little" Cobras that appears to still be available, made by someone and sold by Sierra.

The same shaft for the "King-Dog" on the other hand, is not. Break that and you're going to have to go to a machine shop for it......(which would probably cost more than the boat is worth!)

 

[dakine]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

So, you would also advise me not to buy that old Gar Wood with a Kermath in it too?

 

[Don S]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

So, you would also advise me not to buy that old Gar Wood with a Kermath in it too?

If you was a new boater looking for a first boat, not a mechanic or wood worker, of course I would advise against it.
I would also ask for the sellers phone number .........

 

[Lou C]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Gotta agree with the good sense posted here....yes I do have a Cobra and the best I/O mechanic around here has no problem working on them but would I tell someone to buy one now...of course not! I'd tell em go look around and see what's easiest to get parts and service for....and buy that...here you can get Volvo service as well as Merc so either one is OK...but in some places it's Merc only country so why fight the trend....my Cobra as I have stated before has not caused me much grief at all and the repairs I have had to do have been minor esp for a sterndrive used in salt water...but if I ever re-powered this boat...you can be sure I'd be looking for a nice-used-in-freshwater-from-Upstate NY Alpha transom mount to which I'd bolt an SEI116 and be done with it....the other choice would be to do the Volvo conversion but the price of an SX drive...unless a lucky deal comes around...is more than the boat is worth!

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: What's so bad about OMC sterndrives anyway?

Well ok, maybe it's more like owning an American Motors vehicle...