What's the worst outdrive you know of?

[itstim]

What's the worst outdrive (1970-2004) you've worked on? Which model seems to show up at your shop on a regular basis? Is there a model you would never own? What model do your friends say is the worst?

 

[Wart T]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Stringers.<br /><br />'Nuff said.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

yep

 

[itstim]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Stringers? must be why I've never heard of 'em cuz there ain't none around!

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

1964 Volvo beats all stringers.Shift linkage outside of housing,starboard side.<br />DHP<br /><br />I also agee with stringer responces

 

[mercrewser]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Lots around, they're talking about the OMC stringer series.

 

[johnkc]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

omc stringers got my vote.<br />remember....<br />Original<br />Marine<br />Catastrophe

 

[tommays]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

early omc with 4 cylinder outboard motor power head and funky intake manifold to get carbs level had to have be worst bad outdrive and bad motor<br /><br />tommays

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

ohhh tommays remembers the abysmall attempt at 2 stroke I/O as well I hope to never see another. maybe they are all melted down by now

 

[tommays]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

i wish i could i forget i used to have to keep a bunch running they were old when they were new<br /><br />tommays

 

[coheainco]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

ugh...i just bought a Stringer this year. So far no problems though! (crosses fingers, rubbing lucky rabbit's foot, while knocking on wood)<br /><br />oldbaldfatguy,<br /><br />Where in CO are you? Sounds like you run a shop?

 

[DJ]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Hmmmm.<br /><br />Stringers certainly are up there.<br /><br />The old 2-stroke OMC's were a disaster-true.<br /><br />The Force/Merc. "L" drive was equally a disaster.<br /><br />The MerCruiser/Renault powered units of the mid sixties. The drive was OK but the engine was a pig. Both performance and part price wise.

 

[DJ]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

coheainco,<br /><br />You can get reasonable life out of a "stringer" if you don't flog it.<br /><br />Go easy on the throttle on take offs. Avoid over revving and sudden throttle movements.

 

[coheainco]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Thanks DJ,<br /><br />The lower unti and upper unit were both rebuilt after the 2002 boating season and the engine in the boat was rebuilt completely with zero hours when I got it so I think I got a good deal.<br /><br />Any other suggeastions you might have for making sure the life of it stays extended? <br /><br />Any recommendations on what type of manual to get for it? between Clymer's, Seloc, or the factory manual...is one better than any other?<br /><br />Thanks again!!!

 

[DJ]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Just drive it with egsshells under your throttle hand. Keep clean fluid it it and DO NOT run it tilted.<br /><br />The OEM manual is by far the best.

 

[imported_Mike_M2]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Man, the L drive has gotta be the worst design ever! I put that before the Stringer! I flat out refuse to work on them anymore.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

I wont work on the old renault stuff nor L drive nor stringers. most the time if its older than 85 I dont want to touch it. to much corrosion here.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[achris]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

What about the BMW leg of the mid 80's? To change the seal in the trim rams (which leaked every other day!) was a full leg off job!

 

[Alexo1us]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Originally posted by DJ:<br /> coheainco,<br /><br />You can get reasonable life out of a "stringer" if you don't flog it.<br /><br />Go easy on the throttle on take offs. Avoid over revving and sudden throttle movements.

You mean run it normally I do agree they were not built for race boats

 

[CharlesW]

Re: What's the worst outdrive you know of?

Would a 1975 OMC have been the "Stringer" series you refer to?<br />Ball gear drive, no trim, Chevy V-8 225 HP.<br />Yeah, the darn thing let me down after only 19 years of use. Even had the original ball gears and they were still good.<br />I'm not 100% sure that when it failed, it might have been because I forgot to fill the outdrive with gear oil after changing it. It was during a pretty stressful time of my life and I did a lot of stupid things right about then.<br />Biggest mistake people made with those, is to run the boat with the outdrive tilted. I did not, under any circumstance run mine in the tilted position. In the up position, I doubt that the outdrive would last for a mile before the ball gears were destroyed and the bearings and housing quite often followed.