OMC Lower Unit damage

[JustMrWill]

Sunday heading back to Weymouth Landing at low tide (extremely low tide due to the full moon) found out the hard way that cutting the corner (not staying between the bouyes) was a REALLY bad idea. Hit something REAL hard (going about 25 MPH) just after I cut the wheel when my depth alarm went off. I dented the front of the lower housing on my outdrive (the part that looks like the front of a bullet - cant think of name at moment) I was able to idle to the landing without any unusual noises/vibrations and noticed when I trailered it that it bleeding oil from the 1" dia X 3/4" deep dent/hole in it. Now the questions:<br /><br />Is there any gears etc located in the front of the lower unit that may have been damaged? <br /><br />Can I purchase a new lower unit housing? If so, where? Or is it possible to get it banged back out and welded?<br /><br />I have never removed the outdrive before - can I just remove the lower half? or do I have to take the entire unit off?<br /><br />What should I be looking for for internal damage?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.<br /><br />-JustMrWill<br />1987 4.3l V6 OMC Cobra 21' Regal Majestic CC<br /><br />ps - Ralph, just read that you go out of Weymouth...hope to see ya there sometime!

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

I would get it looked at by a marine tech. There are bearings in the front end, and depending on where the dent is, it could effect the shifting and the gear mesh and backlash. Without all the special tools and a real OMC service manual you aren't going to have much luck checking it out.

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

1)Yes... possibly<br />2) Yes, Ebay amoung others<br />3) No, the whole unit must come off <br />4) The obvious.. bent, broken pieces.<br />The case is shot. You'll need another case. You need some special tools to re-do everything. Only you know your ability. Maybe a mechanic is in order?<br />If not, I would consider swapping out the lower unit with a used or renewed one.<br />Either way you still are looking at big $$ repair.<br />Like someone here has said in the past... BOAT,<br />Bring On Another Thousand!<br />Costly error in judgement... the bouys are there for a reason!

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

Hey KaGee, on my 3.0L Cobra I could just drop the lower half if I wanted to. Just remove the upper to lower attaching bolts, including the ones hidden under the rear zinc, and yank down. Hard to separate but there's nothing stopping you. Should slide apart. Just make sure to drain first, and catch the driveshaft if it gets stuck inthe upper half. I don't think the 4.3L is any different other than the gearing but I could be wrong. <br /><br />MrWill, Check ebay for complete lowers in good condition, you could get lucky and find one for a couple hundred bucks.<br /><br />Don't worry about the mistake, just learn from it. My dad has been boating all my life, and we were out fishing a few weeks ago down by his house in Little Egg Harbor, Great Egg bay, somewhere down there. Anyway, we were cruising up the channel and he wandered out a bit, and next thing you know the engine kicked up out of the water and we were stuck. Luckily we were able to get enough prop bite to back out off the sandbar and back into the channel. No damage, just a little reminder to watch the markers.

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

Steve, What about the shift linkage??

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

You got me, you're right. <br /><br />You have to at least pull the upper off the gimble about 3/4 of an inch to disengage the shift cable from the shift shaft before the lower will come down. Might as well pull it and work on it on the bench. <br /><br />Thanks KaGee.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

A couple of quick pics<br /><br /> http://home.comcast.net/~justmrwill/Pics.html

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

Judging by this schematic:<br /><br /> http://www.sterndrive.info/id17.html <br /><br />you might be OK to just clean it up really well, JB weld the hole, then grind down the JB weld and repaint. Maybe. I'm not an expert, but that strike is so far forward it looks like you missed the important stuff. <br /><br />Good luck!

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

I think you should just hand the keys over to Ethan. I mean the poor guy has got how many hours of work into it anyways?!?! <br /><br />Just busting on you buddy. I am hoping that Steve's solution is the way to go, but I think a new/used lower housing is in order. A quick google on 'used boat parts' looked promising. I will try and pick up the 'Want Ad' magazie tonight and check there as well

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

You must have just clipped the edge of a rock or something else submerged. Surprised more damage was not done.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

I was able to drive the boat to the landing and forward and reverse both work. It is caved in about 3/4". Should I be worried that it is hitting anything inside. From the schematic, it is hard to determine how far forward the bearing housing sits. Thanks for all the replies (even yours Eggkr8 )<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

Do you have insurance? This is covered on most policies.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

Unfortunately, No.<br /><br />Wasn't sure if I was going to get the boat on the water this year so I held off on getting it insured. By the time I got it on water, season was half over and just was gong to wait until the start of the season next year. Took a chance and lost 8-(.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: OMC Lower Unit damage

I don't know about anyone else here, but I have never had luck with JB weld on any housing that holds gear oil. Great luck with other applications, but for some reason gear oil and JB weld has never worked for me. Never used it on an outdrive though, just rear ends off vehicles and gear boxes on machinery. My outdrive had JB weld on the front where you talk when I bought the boat. It also had a froze outdrive which I found out was from the JB weld leaking water in and the previous owner not taking proper care of the problem.<br />Listen to DonS, He helped me a bunch with my outdrive problem. <br />If you want to take the unit apart and buy the tools and book to put it back together, I suggest taking it to a welding shop for a proper repair. <br />In my searches I found several housings for your application on E-Bay decent priced.<br />As a wise man told me, spend the money to get it done right.