OMC Outdrive

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Here is one that I could use some help with. I have a Caravelle 18' with 150 hp 4cyl OMC motor and a OMC outdrive, there is a problem with getting it into gear, it will not go either forward or reverse, what should I check?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Post the year of the engine and drive...
It could be many things but knowing some more info on what you have is a start.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Here is one that I could use some help with. I have a Caravelle 18' with 150 hp 4cyl OMC motor and a OMC outdrive, there is a problem with getting it into gear, it will not go either forward or reverse, what should I check?

The prop?
Not enough info to suggest anything else.
Is it a Cobra drive?

 

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Sorry Guys, it is a 1991. I am not sure if it is a cobra Drive. I was told it was a OMC Cobra engine and OMC Drive.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Welcome to Iboats, in 1991 it would be a Cobra, notorious for shift cable adjustments, or I should say misadjusments from a worn out cable causing drive gear failure. These drives are obsolete and mechanics are not as available as well as the parts, OMC has been out of buisiness since the early 90's. FYI

 

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Re: OMC Outdrive

So, if it turns out to be the Drive and not the cable, is there a replacement drive that can be used?

 

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Thanks for the welcome...
When you mention drive gear failure due to Cable misadjustment, does it actually damage the gear or is it just out of adjustment?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Outdrive

sorry to dump more questions on you, but:

how did the problem first occur? suddenly? or gradually worse?
did it ever pop out of gear under load? (that's what toasts the gears/dogs)

is there any noise now like it's trying to go into gear?

You could just have a cable clip that fell off or something simple....

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Thanks for the welcome...
When you mention drive gear failure due to Cable misadjustment, does it actually damage the gear or is it just out of adjustment?

Thats a good question, from what I'm hearing the cable streches throwing off the adjustment resulting in problems shifting, ignored by the operator who continuses to fiddle with shifting until the clutch dogs slowly get ground away, the metal shavings get into the gear lube and the guy never changes it, which by the way is a proceedure in itself and not done right causes immediate gear failure. When your cobra's clutch dogs go bad the gear will not stay engaged under load.
If you put the drive in full up position and look up underneath on starb. side you'll see the lower shift cable, you can watch it while someone else moves the shifter and see what it does.

 

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Guys, to be honest, this is a boat I am looking at purchasing. The owner sounds like he is not very familure with drives and cable adjustments. I have done some reasearch on the Cobra Drive and fund that they (OMC) discovered a problem with the gears offset (it was poping out of gear under load), they found that they needed to change the offset to 5 deg, then later discovered a problem with the shift cable (prematurely strretching) causing engauging problems, which utlimately if left as is would cause the drive gear failure. I also read that the Cobra Drive is one of the best going (Provided you keep up on the cable adjustments, about every 50 hrs).

Your thoughts?

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: OMC Outdrive

dont buy it. unless it is super cheap because the omc thing is a hassle.had one,read everything, tried many mechanics,still always had shift troubles intermittently.

 

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Re: OMC Outdrive

The boat looks like new, the current owner has has the upolstery redone, everything, it has 2 new covers and motor is solid. is it worth 2k?

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Alot of folks on here will tell you to run away from OMC equipped boats. I'm not one of them. However, I'd stay away from purchasing one with existing problems. You really have no idea why it's having problems. Could be as simple as a badly adjusted shift cable or the lower drive may be toast. You need an unbiased opinion from a professional who inspects the unit.

As was stated before OMC is out of biz...it's difficult to find tech's who are qualified to work on one, or have the necessary specialized tools, and parts are gonna be expensive if they can be found at all. That being said, I'm very happy so far with my OMC.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Being that this is a boat you've never been on the water with, you are only going with what the current owner is telling you.

Our '87 120 hp Merc with Alpha1 outdrive gave us a terrible grind and spin noise when basically under no-wake speed. Sounded like we must have hit something immoveable, but we were in a deep area near the Chatt Yacht Club. No forward or reverse... dead in water... but, we have oars and got to a safe shore and eventual help.

our problem sounds similar to what this guy is telling you. long story now minimized... boat would not go forward or reverse. price tage to fix = nearly $2,500 for many new things (coupler, gimbal, and yadda yadda).

I would plan on adding the $2,500 to whatever you negotiate for the boat and then consider if it is worth that higher amount. Else, if he says it's a cable adjustment, then have him pay for the adjustment before you pay anything. Paying for a pro to adjust the cable is peanuts in the deal. if he doesn't want to consider that direction, then RUN!

Good luck and happy boating!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Outdrive

The boat looks like new, the current owner has has the upolstery redone, everything, it has 2 new covers and motor is solid. is it worth 2k?

god no.

You cannot determine the motor is "solid" when the outdrive won't work.

If you spent $6000 on an identical boat with a Mercruiser drive system in excellent condition (as verified by a water test, and by a certified tech you hire to look at it), you'd be saving a LOT of money in the long run.

and you could probably find that for less than $6000

150 hp 4cyl OMC motor

OMC never had a 150HP 4 cylinder. 140HP at the crank was the most any OMC 4 cyl made, and if it's the common 120HP OMC 2.5L, this 18' boat is gonna be snail slow...

you need to do more homework to make a wise investment.

I'd recommend you fall out of love with this unit

 

[longstand]

Re: OMC Outdrive

ohh snap..

DON:T BUY THIS BOAT. i just purchase a OMC Boat last year. and LOOK at me now. few $$$$ later it still having problem.. look at the number of post i have made on this forum. most of it is Question Question Question..

DON"T BUY THE BOAT​

 

[cr2k]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Another cause for shift problems has nothing to do with any of the mechanical stuff. Huh?

If the drive gasket is leaking corrosion, sand etc can build up in the pockets where the shift arm moves causing it to be very limited in its travel and not engage anything but neutral.

There are several causes of the problem you are describing. Some of them as easy and cheap as a new gasket set ($5-$10) or as bad as total internal meltdown ($1500-$2500).

If you are set on the boat, spend some $$ and take it to a quality shop for an inspection and report. Then you can haggle over the price due to needed work.

Yes OMC is out of business but there are parts available and techs that can fix them. (I would check this out for your area too) But the Cobra is a fairly bulletproof drive if kept serviced. After all it is the basis for the Volvo SX.

 

[UFIXAMYBOAT]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Everyone, first thing, Happy Thanksgiving! I appreciate all your comments and recommendations, I also need to say, not that this might sway some of you that are dead set against me purchasing the boat. I never talked about my mechanical background. I am an automotive mechanic and have a very large assortment of tools. If I was to still consider purchasing this boat, I would be doing so with the full understanding that the fix for this boat is by replaciing the drive. Here's where you come in. Now that the boat has been repaired, what would you expect the boat to be worth, remember it has new upolstery, and 2 new covers.

thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Outdrive

Guys, to be honest, this is a boat I am looking at purchasing.
Your thoughts?
I never talked about my mechanical background. I am an automotive mechanic and have a very large assortment of tools. If I was to still consider purchasing this boat, I would be doing so with the full understanding that the fix for this boat is by replaciing the drive. Here's where you come in. Now that the boat has been repaired, what would you expect the boat to be worth, remember it has new upolstery, and 2 new covers.

Ayuh,... While you might be a Master Mechanic, you're Not an OMC mechanic with the full load of specialized OMC tools...
Also, even being a Master Mechanic won't help you find NLA parts...
This is a Buyer's Market,... All boats are pretty Cheap right now...
Even if you rebuild the Cobra, the boat won't be worth the $2000. the guy is asking for it, Broken....
It's just an 18', under powered, 18Year Old barge...

If you want to buy a boat,+ go Boatin',.... Buy a Merc. or Volvo powered boat...
If you want to buy a pile of parts to Work On,... Go ahead...
just don't be whinning when you can't get that .50 part you Need...
OMC has been Out of Business for Over 10 Years....
Would you buy a AMC American/ Gremlin just because you need a car,..??

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: OMC Outdrive

The new seats and covers really do not add much to the value.
First thing would be to pull the drive.
Test the cable per the specs in the OMC service manual.
Most likely it will need replaced.
Cable is about 100 bucks plus the out drive gasket set.
you MUST have a factory manual!! All of the adjustments are critical and only the OEM book shows you the correct way to do it.

You can see if the drive actually shifts into gear once its removed.
I would first pull the lower drain plug and see if the magnet is full of metal shavings.
If the drive is shot it would be nothing to spend 2 or 3k fixing it.

Here is a download link for the factory manual,
http://www.mediafire.com/?mzdzzqjmdzd

The printed version is best...Ebay is the place.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1991...20481909797QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

The Ebay seller is Don,He can tell you the correct book for your engine,drive serial numbers..
Tell him Gary in NC sent you.