1982 OMC Stringer 3.0 Lower unit removal

[liale]

Something in the outdrive unit of this Stringer sterndrive is broken. The outshaft from engine turns but propeller does not. How can I tell where the problem is? I thought it should be fairly stright forward to drop the lower unit and check for rotation of the water pump shaft while turning the upper horizontal shaft at its ball gear. My manual does not mention removal of lower unit without disassembly of the upper unit first. <br />Anyone have any advise on this? <br />I figure if the water pump in the outdrive pumps water into the engine the upper unit gears are working... would this be a good test and would using a muff give me a false reading?<br /><br />Model: 302FTHRCNC (vertical drive: 982740

 

[ithrowgirls]

Re: 1982 OMC Stringer 3.0 Lower unit removal

Liale,<br /><br />I had a similar problem with this, however, my boat's a few years older. Even still, you should still be able to diagnose it the same way. <br /><br />To make sure the drive shaft is rotating, simply dip it in the lake/river and run the engine. If there is water coming out the tilt caps (whatever the heck they're called), you probably have a good shaft. If so, read on:<br /><br />What to do next is remove the high tension lead from your iginition coil (to make sure your boat doesn't accidently start and cut some limbs), then shift your boat into forward. Now, go to the outdrive and spin your prop (you may need some type of tool setup in order to place enough force upon it). I'm not sure about your outdrive, but some will allow you to spin the prop one way, but not the other. Make your observations about whether or not it's locking, then shift it into reverse, and do the same thing. If you have free rotation of prop in both directions in forward and/or reverse, you have some fun work to do. The lower unit could be shot, or your shift cable could be as well. <br /><br />What's next depends on whether is an electric shift or mechanical shift!<br /><br />Good luck! <br /><br />Mine turned out to be a bad coil in the forward gear!!!

 

[ithrowgirls]

Re: 1982 OMC Stringer 3.0 Lower unit removal

Oh yeah, about the muff. <br /><br />It'll give you a fals reading, because the water gets forced up into the engine, not necessarily by the impeller.

 

[liale]

Re: 1982 OMC Stringer 3.0 Lower unit removal

Thanks for the info, "Ithrowgirls", I think I can use an old plastic garbage can to make a test tank as putting back in the lake at this point is not an option. <br />I very much suspect it is the water pump drive shaft with stripped splines. (had that problem with intermediate unit drive shaft splines where they enter the flywheel coupler a couple of years earlier).<br />Oh, it is not electric shift.<br />Thanks for your help.