1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

[kevintblack]

I've got an old OMC Stringer and I'm having some problems. I just got it in the water last week and it ran fine for a couple of outings. When I went to dock it at the end of the last outing, the leg of the outdrive popped out of the water when I put it into reverse. Now it pops out every time I put the shifter into reverse. I'm not driving it because, obviously, stopping has become a problem.<br /><br />I'm assuming I have a problem with my tilt mechanism here. I pulled the tilt motor from inside the boat and checked the hammer blow coupling. Both still work, but it looks like the top of my worm gear may have snapped off. The prongs that fit into the hammer blow coupling don't protrude enough to lock into the coupling. <br /><br />Would this be enough to cause this probem, or do you think I may have a problem with the tilt clutch as well. My understanding is that the clutch should keep the drive down unless there is a lot of force applied to it. However, if the worm gear is free to spin would the leg be able to move that easily. <br /><br />The boat is in the water, so I'll need to get it pulled out to do the repairs. I'm trying to line up parts now. Any ideas?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Kevin

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

This should be a pretty easy fix excepting if your sitting in saltwater. Corrosion can make the quadrant drive gear hard to get off of the clutch gear shaft.<br /><br />Once you have that off you can pull the clutchpack out of the gear box, then remove the worm drive gear. There was another post here recently on this subject. Do a search for the last 30 days in this forum.

 

[kevintblack]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Thanks.<br /><br />I'm in fresh water. <br /><br />I've been screwing around with this Tilt thing for weeks now. This is my first experience with these OMC electric tilts. I've already replaced several parts. I should have just rebuilt the whole damn thing before I put it in the water, because that's what I'm going to end up doing anyway!<br /><br />Does anyone know if parts from a '78 would fit in a '74? They look identical to me.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Don't hold me to it but I think most should fit. Intermediate housing components could have some differences depending on the engine used and they had both long and short outdrive units as well. Other than that most parts should be interchangable. '78 was the last of the electric stringer.

 

[KaGee]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

I'll bet you are full of water in the tilt gear box. <br /><br />They are simple to rework. Just order a reseal kit ahead of time.

 

[kevintblack]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

When I reassemble this it says to soak the tilt clutch in 30 wt oil for 15 minutes prior to installation. Any other part lubrication I should be doing when I put this back together. The tilt motor is new. What about around the hammer-blow coupling or the worm gear?

 

[KaGee]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

You can lightly lubricate those if you wish.

 

[kevintblack]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Thanks for the tips. The boat gets pulled today. Hopefully, it's Back in by Friday.

 

[stevecyoung]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Kevin, I have an 800 stringer mount that I had to rebuild. The worm gear has a small shear pin or roll pin that broke on mine and did the same thing you are describing. Allthough we ran our's for some time after it broke....(who needs revers!!) Anyway I got a simple re-seal kit and the pin I got from Auto Zone. After having it apart I soaked the clutches in 2-cycle oil and thats also What I run in the clutch case also. I have an OMC Stringer rebuild manual that suggested this and it's been fine for about 20 months now.

 

[kevintblack]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Thanks I'm looking at a complete tilt rebuild at this point. I'm replacing the worm gear, which was sheared as well as the tilt clutch.<br /><br />I have an interesting story to tell about this problem I've been having. I got my boat out of the water today and cracked the tilt clutch case and guess what I found? It was filled with bondo! I bought this boat from a marina and they informed me that the tilt motor was not working, but they had fixed it so I could run without it. I am at a dock so I wasn't too concerned. Figured I'd get to it later, and the guy knocked a few bucks off.<br />Well apparently they removed my hammer-blow coupling, so the motor would just spin, and packed the tilt clutch housing with bondo to jam it so the outdrive wouldn't pop up. Well it ran OK for a while, but eventually the bondo blew and the outdrive started popping again.<br /><br />Unbelivable! Someone could have really been hurt if I needed to stop suddenly. I'm worrying about what else I'm going to find, though so far everything else has been working great.<br /><br />I'm going to go pay a visit to the Marina tomorrow.

 

[KaGee]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Wow Kevin, That is unbelievable! <br /><br />One thing I forgot to mention, a tip from MARINEMECH1, is to pack the case with marine grease prior to placing the cover, and then top it off with gear lube. The greatest obstacle for these housings is water intrusion.

 

[kevintblack]

Re: 1974 OMC Stringer Tilt Problems

Thanks, you were right. There was water intrusion when I opened it up.