87 Rinker V210/OMC 5.0 Chevy acquisition, need some pointers

[dboogie2288]

Hi All, first post here so be nice. I grew up around boats, so I know a little about a little here. Recently I acquired a 1987 Rinker V210 Cuddy with the OMC/Chevy 5.0 V8. This week, we have done a little maintenance based on some research. New oil/filter, new fuel filter, new plugs, changed the lower drive oil. Put some troubleshooting in to why it wouldnt fire, and replaced the points and coil. Currently, we have a well running engine. It's been sitting for several years from best we can tell, but need a little guidance.

Problems we have a the moment....
-Engine wont stop with key. (Anyone know how many terminals this particular switch has? We didnt think to look before we left it an hour and a half away.)
-Wont shift into any drive. (The previous owner had felt the need to hose everything down with white lithium grease, so it appears from what we can tell the electronic contacts on the actuators that are controlled by the cables are not getting any sort of conductivity.)

The last is a request for information, we know we need to check the plugs in both the hull and the engine.... I know there is a drain in front of the engine drive on the back that drained freely after a good amount of water got in the other day, does that need to be plugged? And where do we find the plugs on the engine and hull if thats not what I need to work on?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...thx,

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 87 Rinker V210/OMC 5.0 Chevy acquisition, need some pointers

This week, we have done a little maintenance based on some research. New oil/filter, new fuel filter, new plugs, changed the lower drive oil.

Howdy, we're all nice!!! (well maybe most of us!!)


Do be sure that your research included determining the CORRECT way to drain and refill a Dog-clutch Cobra drive.
If you filled it like a Mercruiser, you'll be replacing the drive!!

Get your hands on a correct model year OMC Service Manual. It'll be next to impossible for anyone here to "talk" you through a lower shiift cable replacement/adjustment.

Take a look at the following link. Pretty good info there. http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

Electronic contacts have no relationship on whether it will go into gear. (other than if they're wrong the engine might die before you can get it into gear.....)

It appears that you might have either some wiring errors or shorted/frayed wires.

You should start with getting a manual.


Oh, Welcome to iboats!!

Do watch out for those T-storms!!


Regards,


Rick

 

[dboogie2288]

Re: 87 Rinker V210/OMC 5.0 Chevy acquisition, need some pointers

Howdy, we're all nice!!! (well maybe most of us!!)


Do be sure that your research included determining the CORRECT way to drain and refill a Dog-clutch Cobra drive.
If you filled it like a Mercruiser, you'll be replacing the drive!!

Get your hands on a correct model year OMC Service Manual. It'll be next to impossible for anyone here to "talk" you through a lower shiift cable replacement/adjustment.

Take a look at the following link. Pretty good info there. http://www.hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/

Electronic contacts have no relationship on whether it will go into gear. (other than if they're wrong the engine might die before you can get it into gear.....)

It appears that you might have either some wiring errors or shorted/frayed wires.

You should start with getting a manual.


Oh, Welcome to iboats!!

Do watch out for those T-storms!!


Regards,


Rick

Yeah I did it the Mercruiser way...but thankfully enough caught it before we actually did anything with it, so I can correct it.
[edit]
I did some research and found this;
http://www.sterndrive.info/id270.html
it basically is the mercruiser way with checking the top gear case....is that worng??

Hopefully more will chime in on owning this 5.0...not seen too many owners based on the searching I've done here.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 87 Rinker V210/OMC 5.0 Chevy acquisition, need some pointers

Yeah I did it the Mercruiser way...but thankfully enough caught it before we actually did anything with it, so I can correct it.
[edit]
I did some research and found this;
http://www.sterndrive.info/id270.html
it basically is the mercruiser way with checking the top gear case....is that worng??

Hopefully more will chime in on owning this 5.0...not seen too many owners based on the searching I've done here.

Well, you lucked out!

My previously installed King Cobra was filled like a Merc by a dealer (when my brother owned it) and it didn't even make it all the way around the lake before it froze up! The dealer DID replace the drive with no "lawyering up" though..........


The way the above people are suggesting filling the Cobras evidently works. But it's NOT filling like a Merc because you DO NOT fill it all the way from the bottom (drain).

They suggest filling it from the drain to the fill port.......THEN continue filling FROM the fill port. I have to say that enough people have done it this way so as to verify that it must work.

I can only speak to what the original OMC service manual said and that was to fill from the FILL port with the dip-stick not screwed in (resting on top of the threads) Which allows for a slight over fill.

Then run the drive long enough to warm it up and have most of the bubbles work their way to the top and add more if needed.....


It's possible that filling it from the bottom to the fill port and then from the fill port after reduces the small amount of bubbles trapped the other (OMC) way. (filling it like a Merc traps a HUGE bubble)

I don't know. Unless there was a (secret) OMC TSB that suggested changing the way to fill them............AND having seen what happens when you fill them wrong, I would only do it the way OMC says to do it in the OEM service manual.

The other things I can suggest is that you ensure that the alignment is correct, and your lower shift cable is adjusted correctly....(I'll repeat that you need to get the OMC manual for that)

As far as the 5.0L engine goes.....the engine "stuff" is pretty much "straight forward" A lot of people get a 5.7 to replace it with when the time comes.....

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: 87 Rinker V210/OMC 5.0 Chevy acquisition, need some pointers

Keeps on running? Well at least it runs hehehehehehe.. When ya changed the coil did ya forget something?? Sounds like a wiring issue.. Make sure the coil isn't always having power running to it(something may be back feeding to it IDK).. That will burn up your new points and fry you new coil quick.. I have seen a coil literally explode..

Yes that hole that is on the hull has to be plugged:facepalm:..