1987 OMC 800 stringer hard steering cause

[Wadeko]

First time to post a question ever to on a forum. I usually find my answers by searching the forums and its info is outstanding. I have an 87 Renken with an 800 OMC stringer and a 4.3 merc. Last time out I noticed my steering was not running smooth. Checked fluid and lube points and everything worked fine in the driveway. Took it out again and the steering was "locking up" wouldn't turn all the way and sometimes not at all. I know from this forum, you never run the engine with the outdrive tilted up. Was trying to figure out the steering issue and noticed my Ball gears are completely shot. I checked them at the beginning of the season and they were fine. Could the bad ball gears cause hard steering? Also...what would cause my outdrive not to go down the whole way and wear the ball gears so bad? This is just a theory of mine as to why they went so quick. The out drive still goes up and down fine and goes complete up to complete down.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard.

please post a picture of the '87 stringer as the company quit making them in 1985 when the cobra outdrive came out for 86. then again, stranger things have happened. However if you have ball gears, then you definately have a stringer.

ball gears and steering are not related. the tru-course steering is visible underneath the outdrive top cap. you could have binding there, or your cable could be bad.

if the bushings under the trunion caps are bad (or the trunion caps are loose), that will chew up your ball gears in a heartbeat and make your steering go to hell.

 

[Wadeko]

Thanks for the reply. It is a Stringer again from researching on here. Renken went out about the same time frame so I have a feeling it's kinda a "leftover". Not sure what the trunion is? I assume it's the pivot point for the out drive going up and down?

 

[Wadeko]

This happened in one outing with the boat. Everything worked fine before hand. I would think if the cable was going it would be a increasingly worsening problem. I'm pretty mechanical. I rebuilt the engine for this boat. But it's my first boat and I'm learning.....the hard way!!

 

[Wadeko]

Plate on the drive

 

[southkogs]

Plate on the drive is actually the part number and serial number for the upper gear case. Dunno' why they did that.

The ball gears do not turn with the drive for steering. The drive actually pivots using the upper gear case as part of the swivel. It's possible that if you munched the ball gears and the steering about the same time that they are related only in that the drive may have situated in a way to harm the ball gear and the gear for the true-course steering (just to the upper left of the ball gear as you're looking at the gear case from the front).

Do you know how to disconnect the steering cable from the drive?

 

[Wadeko]

Don't know how, but I'm sure I will be finding out. I am going to be pulling the drive off this weekend to see if anything else is damaged before I order a ball gear replacement kit. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Scott Danforth]

when you order the ball gear kit, make sure to get new seals, and new nuts. you may have to chisel the old nuts off.

 

[southkogs]

If you were able to run at all, that should mean the gear cases are free and running. I guess I'd be looking to make sure the pivot trunions (where the drive tilts up and down) aren't screwed up in any way. I'm thinking your drive shifted away from the intermediate for some reason. Didn't hit anything while you were out on the lake did you?

 

[Wadeko]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It's really appreciated. I don't remember hitting anything. Was running fine all day. When I got to the No wake zone, my steering seemed stiff and jittery. So it happened in one day. I tried posting pics but they are to large to upload. I will update what I find when I take the drive off. The steering gears beside the ball gears look fine.

 

[southkogs]

If something went way bad with the ball gear, the worm wheel (at the top of the upper gear case) for the steering may have gotten whacked out. The screws at the top of the gear case will let you access that reasonably easy to take a look. Just mind the shims in there. They are very important.

 

[Wadeko]

Here is what the ball gears look like now. They looked perfect 2 months ago with only slight marks where they mesh.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the ball gear on the left is missing the cover. lets hope there isnt too much corrosion. Also, the ball gear on the left looks like it is now making contact with the case (which it shouldnt be).

Im guessing that the case on the left is the intermediate - looks like you may have lost a bearing on that shaft.

 

[Wadeko]

The left is the out drive.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Then I would seriously inspect it when you pull the drive.

 

[Wadeko]

Pulled the out drive....here is what I found. The worm gear is loose and the piece on top of the out drive that the worm gear meshes with is wiped out. The ball gear on the out drive, the shaft is tight. The ball gear on the intermediate has a little play. So I am assuming that bearing is spent. The wear on the outdrive I think is from the ball gear pieces from the intermediate grinding on the outdrive. Should I replace all bearings involved? I have a press and can do it. Also, is there anything I should replace when I replace the worm gear? Good news is.....I got the outdrive out without damage to the shift cable!!

 

[southkogs]

Dunno' how I missed this was in the wrong forum :crazy:

You're outta' my frame of "know" Wadeko ... I've never been into those parts of the drive.

 

[Scott Danforth]

make sure if you pull the bearings to set the drive up properly (with a dial indicator, and depth mic). there are a bunch of shims in the upper gear gase to set bearing depth and backlash of the gears.

 

[Wadeko]

I have done ring and pinions in car/truck diffs. If I replace the bearings on the shaft for the intermediate ball gear, is there a "lash" to be concerned with? Or is it what it is? That would only be an issue when I replace the bearings??

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would read up on setting up an intermediate. There are shims under the bearing carriers for setting lash. I haven't had a stringer case apart in at least 12-15 years