OMC sterndrive impeller

[chrisj13]

1968 4cyl 120hp OMC Sterndrive with 477 ORIGINAL hours. Engine started overheating, so I bought a new impeller (and thermostat for good measure), and planned on doing the job myself. (Above average mechanical skills, but a lack of patience at times!) I've got the manual, a friend who USED to be a boat mechanic (newer boats, that is), and a garage full of tools. Here's my question:
Tackle the job myself? or take to the shop? If I got the job done in one day, no problem. HOWEVER, I do not have room to store parts all over the place if I run into any problems! I hear it's an easy job, and I've heard it's a pain. any advice?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC sterndrive impeller

If its a salt water drive...expect to break fasteners as you take it apart.

 

[superbenk]

Re: OMC sterndrive impeller

I hear it's an easy job, and I've heard it's a pain. any advice?

It's both It's not technically hard, but it will require some patience & perseverance to get everything apart & back together again. I did it recently & took some pics which you can see in this thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=378358

 

[chrisj13]

Re: OMC sterndrive impeller

Those are some great pictures...thanks for the replies! How heavy is the outdrive? One of my concerns is that it's too heavy/bulky to move w/o a winch or something. I have a motorcycle floor jack, but that's about it. Will that work?

 

[superbenk]

Re: OMC sterndrive impeller

Those are some great pictures...thanks for the replies! How heavy is the outdrive? One of my concerns is that it's too heavy/bulky to move w/o a winch or something. I have a motorcycle floor jack, but that's about it. Will that work?

I'd say it's about 75-100 lbs. I could pick it up by myself off my home-made dolly. (I'll try to take a picture of it tonight & post it - just a platform made of 1x5 boards with 2" casters screwed in to the bottom & a couple of parallel 2x6s that the skeg sits in. Tops of the 2x6s are ripped at 45deg to form a Y-shaped slot that the skeg sits in up to the bullet which rests on the V part of the Y slot. Couple eye-hooks screwed into the platform to attach bungies to for holding the drive steady on the platform - works awesome!)

 

[chrisj13]

Re: OMC sterndrive impeller

pics would be great! I have my own homemade stand in the works here...always open to new ideas though! Thanks!

 

[chrisj13]

Re: OMC sterndrive impeller

Got the impeller and housing changed, but haven't had a chance to fire it up yet because I didn't have any Type C gear oil to refill with...If anybody has questions on how to do this job, I'm now a certified expert!