hit rocks with stringer 400

[nick_vw]

well coming in late evening with the sun glaring i missed the final buoy and took a turn into bad waters:facepalm:...doing no more than 10 mph I found myself in ~2 ft of water with smooth rock, hit the outdrive followed by an awful rattling/vibrating. I quickly threw it back no neutral but the noise continued...then i realized the drive must have kicked up from the impact and the ball gears were rattlin' away...promptly killed the engine, pushed myself into deep water and lifted the drive. Only damage is a good gouge on the back of the skeg, prop is untouched, I sure hope I didn't hit the hull but nothing was above water.

Powered up on the way home, seemed good, no other noises or vibrations. Should I check anything, How much damage did the ball gears take? I checked them before this season started and they were ~40% worn through, likely originals, most ive seen were far more worn than mine and still functioning.

Also, Im guessing the stringer is supposed to kick up upon unfortunate impact with the bottom of a lake? I know my neighbors merc alpha 1 did no such thing after he nearly tore his out drive clean off on a sunken log..

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

Visually inspect the ball gears. Good that you shut it off quickly. You know what they looked like before so you have something to compare to. Then spin your prop. If there is no damage to it chances are that you did not bend the prop shaft. . Also do take a good look around the bolts (checking for any cracks) that hold the tilt quadrant on. I had a friend who hit something and it broke the upper case where the quadrant bolts to. You might be good to go.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

I had a friend who hit something and it broke the upper case where the quadrant bolts to.

This is exactly what happened to me the 2nd time I took my boat out after buying it almost 4 years ago. Ran it into a rock at a couple mph, the tilt clutch didnt slip and completely cracked the upper gear case where the quadrant gear bolts to it. Had a shop swap all my internals to a new gear case to the tune of $700. Ouch.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

This is exactly what happened to me the 2nd time I took my boat out after buying it almost 4 years ago. Ran it into a rock at a couple mph, the tilt clutch didnt slip and completely cracked the upper gear case where the quadrant gear bolts to it. Had a shop swap all my internals to a new gear case to the tune of $700. Ouch.

I should have tested the torque on m tilt gear when I recently had the drive off to fix the cracks in the shift cable. They were letting water into the lower gearcase.

 

[nick_vw]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

Had a better look today, It looks like I hit the back of the drive (the bullet shaped part where the prop shaft is), took a gouge but not deep enough to cause any leaks. Tilt quadrant gear is fine. I took a look at the ball gears, they look more less the same, I figure they must be a very strong material. Someone was telling me there is an adjustment on later stringers that allows you to set the force required to move the clutch upon impact, although I cant find any solid information on this feature (if it even exists) Anyone know about this?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

Someone recently posted a youtube link that showed a clutch pack with the adjustable allen screw, which you accessed thru the center of the tilt gear shaft, on the outboard side. They did not mention any years that that feature was used. My '75 intermediate housing does not have that set screw and as far as I know you have to set the tension with shims, using a press to compress and disassemble the pack if you need to alter it.

That being said, the torque tension on that pack is between ???? and 130 inch pounds, I'd have to go look at the book. Having been engaged, it would probably be a good time to re -test the torque break away of your pack. Too light and your drive could raise in reverse OR slam upward too quickly with minimal contact. Too stiff, and next time it might break something.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

From the research Ive done and examples I have seen, it appears that only the intermediate housings that came paired with full mechanical drives had the adjustable clutch pack.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

From the research Ive done and examples I have seen, it appears that only the intermediate housings that came paired with full mechanical drives had the adjustable clutch pack.

Well, according to my local OMC guru, all the clutchpacks are interchangeable. So if you stumble across an adjustable one, grab it. It sure makes a lot of sense to be able to adjust them that way.

 

[nick_vw]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

From the research Ive done and examples I have seen, it appears that only the intermediate housings that came paired with full mechanical drives had the adjustable clutch pack.

early models were electric, I know there were some hydraulic hybrid models after that, but the late models (81-85 or thereabouts) would have an adjustment as they are full mechanical. Mine is actually paired to an 86 model boat, even though that was the year the cobra came out. Ill have to take a closer look

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hit rocks with stringer 400

early models were electric, I know there were some hydraulic hybrid models after that, but the late models (81-85 or thereabouts) would have an adjustment as they are full mechanical. Mine is actually paired to an 86 model boat, even though that was the year the cobra came out. Ill have to take a closer look

The discussion was about the tilt clutchpack, not the variety of stringer outdrive itself.