OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

[ourkid2000]

Ok, a buddy of mine tells me he has a problem with his outdrive and I told him I'd consult the experts!

He says his OMC Stringer out-drive has a feature that, in the case of striking the out-drive on the bottom, will automatically lift the whole assembly. According to him, this is not working.

I have the repair manual for this unit and can't seem to find any information on this system. Anyone know where I can start with this?

Thanks folks!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

There is basically a clutch in the tilt mechanism. It is not automatic but will allow the tilt gear to rotate under a strike condition.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

According to him, this is not working.

If it doesn't work, the two aluminum trunnion caps break off the intermediate and the drive falls off the boat.
by the time you would know it isn't working, the outdrive would be an anchor and the shift cable the rope to it.
...an expensive test.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

BUT...the advantage of the stringer drive is that in this case you don't sink like with a transom mounted drive! Back when stringers were still being made, this was a big selling point up in the northwest where you had to contend with partially submerged logs all the time.

 

[ourkid2000]

Re: OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

Thanks for the info fellas,

When you mentioned it was a clutch, I found the info on it in the repair manual. I think my friend has the wrong idea of what the purpose of this system is.

It's got me wondering how he knows it doesn't work. Is there any way to test this system? The repair manual just shows you how to overhaul the clutch pack (which may be necessary......although it is probably incorrectly shimmed).

 

[ourkid2000]

Re: OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

So I ask my buddy to clarify his problem and I get a better picture of what's going on.

He says that when he puts his boat in reverse that the Stringer comes up on it's own. The tilt clutch has been designed to stop this from happening but I'm not sure what's causing the issue.

I understand that the clutch is designed to start to slip at 160 ft-lbs, which makes sense in the event of a strike but preventing the whole thing from coming out of the water in reverse kinda dosn't compute in my head.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer - auto tilt?

some of the later units (1982 on maybe?...)had a blue plastic plug in the gear end of the clutch shaft. underneath that plug was a hex bolt thing. an allen key can be used to add or remove clutch tension.

if he has an earlier one, he'll have to disassemble the clutch and inspect it all.