OMC seal leak

[marvst]

Hi,<br /><br />I heard that the 1978 - 1986 units have a problem with the intermediate seals leaking and water getting into the oil. Also, the replacement seals are getting very difficult to locate and the leakage problem is reoccuring.<br /><br />Advice I received is to not to purchase a boat with OMC from for these years.<br /><br />Saw a nice boat with an OMC stern dive that runs very well but the OMC is 1983.<br /><br />Would appreciate opinions about the problem and risk on purchasing an older boater with this stern drive. Thanks

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: OMC seal leak

I have an 1987 Cobra and the parts for my unit are starting to take alittle work or alot of money to get. If I had to do it all over (or enough money for a a re-power) I would go with a Merc (they by far the most popular and easiest to find parts). I have heard that the older "string" models had issues. If I was you...I would pass...unless it was free and I had the money to re-power.<br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[marinemech1]

Re: OMC seal leak

the old omc stringers have maintence issues mainly lack of maintence<br />parts are still easy to get oem or after market but they are expensive<br />if you purchase one of these units find a shop that know how to service these drives

 

[marinemech1]

Re: OMC seal leak

i happen to own a 1978 800 seies and have had no problem servicing it or buying parts<br />but then again i work for a former o.m.c. dealer and have been trained on these drives

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: OMC seal leak

Do not buy it !<br /><br />DHP

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC seal leak

Originally posted by DHPMARINE:<br /> Do not buy it !<br /><br />DHP

Ayuh,........... I Couldn't Agree More...........<br /><br />It would be More Fun to step in front of a Speeding Freight Train................<br /><br />You've been givin Excellent Advice,..............Use It...............

 

[marvst]

Re: OMC seal leak

Thanks for the advice. Really appreciate the comments.<br /><br />Marv

 

[Alexo1us]

Re: OMC seal leak

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />

Originally posted by DHPMARINE:<br /> Do not buy it !<br /><br />DHP

Ayuh,........... I Couldn't Agree More...........<br /><br />It would be More Fun to step in front of a Speeding Freight Train................<br /><br />You've been givin Excellent Advice,..............Use It...............

Ya know I learned last year that hype you hear about OMC being junk is mostly just that hype.<br />I had the good fortune to be given a boat with 120 OMC how I got her is another story.<br />When she came to me she was in need of some care.<br />Wait here it comes All OMCs over heat...<br />But guess what? all the striped bolts and broken pieces and about 6 times removing the lower unit I discovered that all of her problems were do to the inept persons or persons unknown who worked on her before. I have to say even myself didn't pay enough attention to detail or I wouldn't have had to do things twice or three times. <br />the advice I have for you if you find something you like run it if it seems to be strong chances are it will be good. Although harder to find for some products find some one to check her out for you, or if you’re up for adventure buy the book. I almost missed out. I now have a boat she is not pretty and she’s not fast, but she'll pull hard all day and she don't care if you put her up wet.<br />All she asks of me is that I provide her with her basic requirements gas, oil, and maintenance.<br />She's real cheap on gas the guy who gave me the boat, now has a newer boat with a 150 <br />Merc and he'll burn 3 times as much in fuel as I do. I have heard him mumble something about trading.<br />Sorry I like braggin.<br />Bottom line is they are all about the same if they are maintained they should provide years of service I'm not so sure you need someone with years of experience on one make or another since a good mechanic with the right information should be able to fix it right.<br />No matter who built it

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC seal leak

Alex,....... I'm Glad you've had excellent Luck with your Free Stringer drive.............<br /><br />But,......... That Doesn't make it a Wise Investment..........<br /><br />The OMC Stringer Drives were Marginal, At Best, the day they were Built..........<br />There's Tilt,+ No Trim.....<br />And,.. Now there's No Manufacturer Support...... They're Out of Business.........<br /><br />And,.... Finding a Tech to work on it for you, is Nearly Impossible...............<br /><br />Around Here, A boat with a Stringer Drive is worth Exactly 1/2 the value of the Same boat, with Any Other Drive...............<br />Reguardless of the condition of the hull......

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC seal leak

He, He, HEEEE.... (Sounding like Trog! ) Just thinking again of previous posts where two distiguished members here refer to the "other brand" as "black anchors". Marinemech1 said it best... "lack of maintenance". Don't care what drive you buy. Lack of maintenance will kill them all. <br /><br />Parts are still available for the '80-ish vintage Stringers. Yes some are expensive. From what I've seen, so are Merc's and Volvo's. For that matter, anything "marine" is expensive.<br /><br />Oh, and Bondo... My Stringer has "trim" .

 

[Alexo1us]

Re: OMC seal leak

If they were as bad as they say would we be still be seeing units that are still running great.<br />In fact if you look here I seem to see a heck of allot more Mercs owners with questions then OMC.<br />So before you say there is hell of lot more Mercs out there. Which I know there is, since they obviously had a better sales staff then OMC did.<br />The parts are still available after market yes they are expensive but I have found that any brand is the same so you got to shop around.<br />Like was said before maintenance is the key no matter what brand your running.<br />Thanx for giving me something about my free boat. The one thing I’ll say about that is that I have learned not to put down OMC just because the masses do not understand how they work.<br />I have owned a lot of boats over the years all of them were Mercs or outboards and I have to say the stringer drive although old is the best for ride can’t explain it but pushing from the hull instead of the transom makes a hell of a difference in ride comfort, more of an inboard feel. I can handle a lot of water that most boats of my size have to stay out of.<br />BTW I have both trim and tilt on mine.<br />But is it not great we can all have our own opinions and have a choice of what we choose to debate.

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: OMC seal leak

I owned a 1977 OMC electric shift for seven years and about 2700 hours. Had a lot of fun with that boat. Also had a lot of problems that I fixed or eliminated myself, but still didn't appreciate:<br /><br />Upper housing very difficult to keep sealed<br />Steering stinks (sloppy and stiff)<br />Tilt motor poor design and location<br />Tilt mechanism (same)<br />Trim design so poor it's better to eliminate it and use trim tabs<br />etc, etc, etc.