OMC coupler problem?

[Oatsmandave]

Hello Kiddies! I hope you all can help me out here.Ok,Here goes my story.I bought a 88 bayliner capri with a 3.0 OMC Cobra drive.(this is probabaly my whole problem!) I go out one beautiful day and I get about 2 miles out and my boat dies!Try to turn it over and it was like my batteries were dying which I knew better since I had just recharged them both the day before.I tried to turn it over again and then turned the key off and the starter was still trying to turn over(with the key OFF!!)So I turn off all battery power and get a tow to the marina.Ok,I am figuring my ignition or solenoid took a poop on me.I go have a beer(or 4)come back to boat,turned the key and she started right up!!!!So in my dumb infinate wisdom I decide to try going out again! I get about 300 yards out and give her gas and she was going good then she acted like I had pushed in the clutch of a car and she revved up pretty good.I take it out of gear and put it back in and she did it again.I take the doghouse off and smell burned rubber and look a little deeper and see rubber chunks all over the rear of the engine.This piece reminds me of a wax toilet ring.So here is my dilema.I know a bit about outboard motors but NOTHING about an I/O so in otherwords I am "kind of" mechanically inclined.What caused this problem?Is it worth me trying to do it myself? The engine is a brand new factory engine but is void of warranty because it was put in 2 years ago.When I got this boat it ran good and I would say the motor has MAYBE 15 hours on it and I put most of them on her.Any insight would be GREAT (except no criticizing that I bought an OMC Bayliner lol) Thanks for all you guys help.This site has been a great asset to me and I HOPE it will be on this issue also.I would like to get her going so I can at least do a fall 'ssippi cruise. Thanks again,Dave

 

[gcboat]

Re: OMC coupler problem?

Hey Dave,
Sorry about your misfortune. I'm going to be the last person to criticize your choice of boats, I've got a good one. Well your drive coupler does sound like the culprit. It will mean the removal of your lower unit. But look on the bright side, you'll get the opportunity to replace all of your seals while you're at it. Not being 100% familiar with your particular boat I'm just making the lame statement concerning the lower unit - the engine may also need to be removed but a real mechanic will have the truthful answer. I just can't see it would need to come out but there's always the issue on 'room to work'. I would suggest you give a look on eBay for the part. I see them on there every now and then. However please buy new, an old part just won't do you any good - . It is a very straightforward job, no rocket science about it. Time consuming? Possibly three to four hours with just the lower unit coming off. However I did not factor in beverage breaks. Last one I did took damn near a week !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Concerning your mystery starting problem it could be something as simple as the ignition switch grounding out, or as you mentioned the solenoid itself. Hard to diagnose over the p.c. Anyhow, keep us posted on your progress and the solution. We all benefit from other's problem's. Sad, but true.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: OMC coupler problem?

Tough break...engines does have to come out after drive removal. Also get yourself an alignment tool. Buy, borrow, rent , steal but get one. Most common cause of a bad coupler is poor coupler to gimbal alignment.

 

[Speak]

Brother - u will need to pull the motor to get access to the coupler and based on how you describe your problem it's definitely pooched. Pull the drive off lift the engine off the boat to get cases go the engine bell housing, removed the bell housing unbolt the coupler re install in reverse, re align the motor using an alignment bar and re install the drive. Heavy work but not hard. Good luck